Justin Baldoni’s Lawyer Reacts to Ryan Reynolds’ SNL Joke Amid Scandal

The Anniversary Special, where he appeared alongside his wife, Blake Lively.

During the broadcast, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, along with Reynolds (aged 48), and Lively (aged 37), got up from their seats in the audience. They then posed a question to the host saying, “We have a query.

The question, “Hey Ryan Reynolds, what’s up?” was posed to him, and in response, the actor known for Deadpool made a dry comment, “I’m doing great – I assume you’ve heard about the turbulent filming of It Ends with Us.” This is a subtle reference to the numerous news articles about the challenging production of the summer blockbuster.

Justin’s lawyer Bryan Freedman has since responded on an appearance on Hot Mics With Billy Bush.

The lawyer stated, “To be honest, I’m not aware of any individual whose spouse has experienced sexual harassment and joked about such incidents. It took me by surprise.

37-year-old Lively made her first appearance at a red carpet event in two months, an occasion that hadn’t happened since the controversy with Baldoni, 41, occurred towards the end of last year.

At the celebration marking the 50th year of the popular NBC show, Lively and Reynolds were accompanied by several well-known stars such as Eddie Murphy, Kristen Wiig, Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, Bill Murray, Leslie Jones, David Spade, and Jon Lovitz from Saturday Night Live.

Among the illustrious stars gracing the eventful evening in Gotham, there I was, starstruck alongside none other than Kim Kardashian, Aubrey Plaza, Paul McCartney, the radiant Cher, Tom Hanks, Steve Martin, the legendary Steven Spielberg, Kevin Costner, Jason Momoa, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and the enchanting Paul Simon – just to name a few!

Lively’s most recent appearance on a red carpet was on December 11, 2024, at the Beauty Inc Awards held in New York City. This event took place just a few weeks prior to the legal dispute with Baldoni starting.

Livelily and Reynolds appeared together, displaying unity, at the TV event in New York City’s Rockefeller Plaza, despite enduring several scandalous months.

On social platforms, responses generally leaned against the duo, with several users bringing up accusations Baldoni had made in legal documents related to the movie.

One user commented, ‘It’s a nice attempt by SNL to repair the situation regarding Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively, but I don’t think their efforts will be successful.’

Another remarked of the show, ‘Gross. So they’re supporting the bullies too.’

One individual observed that Reynolds appears “distressed,” whereas another remarked about the duo, “They’re quite awkward now…

Previously, Reynolds’ marriage with Scarlett Johansson was mentioned, the same Scarlett Johansson who attended on Sunday and is currently married to Saturday Night Live regular Colin Jost.

‘I hope Scarlet laughed uproariously,’ the user said.

On Instagram Sunday, Chevy Chase, a former Saturday Night Live cast member known for his share of set disputes, posted a posed picture that showed the couple in it.

Audience Q&A with Amy Poehler and Tina Fey! #SNL50

— Saturday Night Live – SNL (@nbcsnl) February 17, 2025

On Chase’s page, Reynolds and Lively were the initial photos added to the gallery, which additionally featured pictures of the actor along with his co-stars from the show – Murphy, Rock, Sandler, and old adversary Murray.

Or simply:
The first images on Chase’s photo gallery were Reynolds and Lively, accompanied by photos of the actor with co-stars like Murphy, Rock, Sandler, and rival Murray.

In the nearby discussion, Reynolds and Lively were frequently mentioned due to claims Baldoni had made in his legal documents.

Said one user: ‘Not Ryan and Blake, but love everyone else! Not sure why they are the first pic.’

A different person remarked, “Did you bring on a intimacy consultant for that scene with Blake?” while another user questioned, “I hope you captured everything on record just in case there’s a lawsuit.

One individual cautioned, “Watch out Chevy, she could potentially accuse you of something,” and another stated, “Blake has been discontinued.

Last summer, Lively and Reynolds, who were both box office sensations with their movies “It Ends with Us” and “Deadpool & Wolverine,” appeared as a high-profile pair at an event honoring the classic NBC comedy series. They looked every inch the A-list couple in their elegant outfits for the occasion.

In the midst of the Baldoni controversy, Lively gracefully made her return to the red carpet, donning a chic silver dress and letting her golden locks cascade freely. To complete her look, she added a pair of sleek silver sandals.

Reynolds looked every part the leading man in a black tuxedo, with his brown locks spiked up. 

In a legal claim, Lively alleges that Baldoni engaged in sexual harassment. On the other hand, Baldoni counterclaims that Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, their publicist Leslie Sloane are guilty of defamation and extortion, with the latter claiming damages amounting to $400 million.

In response to claims made by Lively, Baldoni has refuted them. Meanwhile, Lively, Reynolds, and Sloane have all denied allegations leveled against Baldoni in court proceedings.

Baldoni’s team has unveiled a website, showcasing confidential correspondences like text messages, that were part of legal documents, and shed light on his conversations with the influential Hollywood duo regarding the production of their romantic film.

He asserted in court documents that attempts were made to circumvent and challenge his role as the director of “It Ends with Us.

Following the unveiling of a promotional advertisement for Another Simple Favor on February 5, where Lively co-stars with Anna Kendrick, certain commentators suggested that Lively may have attempted to exert her influence over director Paul Feig, aged 62, regarding that film. This speculation prompted the filmmaker to address these claims.

Dailymail.com has reached out to Feig and his rep for further comment on this story.

As a film connoisseur speaking from personal experience, let me clarify that when it comes to this upcoming project, I have complete artistic autonomy. To set the record straight, there’s only one version of the film – mine – ensuring that my creative vision remains undiluted and true.

In his response, Feig lavishly complimented Lively, a talented actress whom he had collaborated with in the 2018 film “A Simple Favor.

The Emmy-nominated director, known for directing series like Arrested Development, The Office, and Nurse Jackie, praised Blake by saying, “Blake has been absolutely fantastic to work with, making my job a dream. She is exceptionally talented and an outstanding collaborator. I’m a huge admirer of hers.

Many supporters of the director voiced their disapproval when he defended Lively, as accusations were leveled against him by Baldoni in legal documents and online posts.

One user remarked, ‘Paul, despite your inclination to dismiss these comments as originating from a group of eccentrics, Blake and Ryan indeed leveraged their influence to trample Justin.’ It’s disheartening, and I wish you recall the times when you were just beginning in this industry.

others implied to Feig that his esteemed status within the industry as a well-respected industry veteran provided him with protection against the aggressive involvement and interference that Lively reportedly inflicted upon Baldoni regarding the script, costumes, and editing of It Ends with Us.

One user commented: “Given your extensive experience in directing, it’s no surprise that Blake wouldn’t dare encroach on your territory.” Instead, she targets up-and-coming directors, trying to exert influence through her husband and assert control over them.

She wouldn’t dare treat you in such a manner, hence her qualities like being amazing, great, and kind are certainly true.

A different user pointed out: ‘By continuing to support Blake, you’re actually reinforcing the idea that he is more polite towards influential figures like yourself and less considerate towards others perceived as less powerful.’

Another said, ‘You seem like a decent individual, but it’s fortunate for you that Blake chose not to pick on you and keep you hidden away. She respected you [as she recognized that you weren’t insignificant].’

‘But good luck with this show. It’s dead in the water.’

In a series of comments on Feig’s post, several individuals pointed out Baldoni’s assertion from legal documents stating that Lively had orchestrated his reduced attendance at the premiere of “The It Ends With Us.

In the spirit of offering helpful advice for our readers: “Take note, you could potentially find yourself in the basement during the premier event,” one individual cautioned, and another agreed, “Watch out Paul, there’s a chance she might send you to the basement on premiere day.

On Tuesday, Feig shared a separate post of his own, following reports that the movie penned by Jessica Sharzer is set to launch the upcoming SXSW Film and TV Festival in Austin, Texas next month.

Feig posted, ‘I have a small request… would you mark your calendar?’ He announced that ‘#AnotherSimpleFavor’, an upcoming film by Amazon MGM Studios, will debut as the opening night film at SXSW in Austin on March 7th. Later, it will be available on Prime Video starting May 1st. Keep an eye out for more updates and plenty of fun ahead!

Amazon’s Prime Video posted a message saying, ‘We have another favor to request of you… could you mark your calendar? The premiere night at SXSW is coming up. It’s set for May 1st on Prime Video.’

Starring alongside Kendrick once more, vibrant actresses take on their previously portrayed characters Emily Nelson and Stephanie Smothers in the follow-up to the 2018 movie “A Simple Flavor,” where they reprise their roles for this sequel.

The sequel continues the story with Stephanie Smothers and Emily Nelson, who journey to the picturesque Italian island of Capri, where Emily is set to marry a prosperous Italian entrepreneur in an opulent ceremony.

As an ardent movie enthusiast, I couldn’t help but notice that the stellar cast of this upcoming film includes none other than Allison Janney, Michele Morrone, Elizabeth Perkins, Henry Golding, and Andrew Rannells. These talented individuals are sure to add depth and excitement to the cinematic experience!

A multitude of people swamped both the Prime Video post and Feig’s platform with comments, which were largely based on accusations Baldoni had made in his legal documents and a related online site.

One user inquired if Ryan had revised a particular scene, to which another quipped, ‘Does the poster also advertise Ryan’s gin?’ A third questioned, ‘Is this the original version, or did Blake make alterations?’

In Baldoni’s court document submission, others have pointed out a text conversation where Lively compared Reynolds and Swift to the dragons from Game of Thrones. One individual asked, “How deeply engaged are Blake’s dragons in this matter?”, while another questioned, “Will there be any dragons involved?

Some admitted they joined the conversation solely due to the dramatic nature of the circumstances. As one user put it, they jumped right into commenting during the heated debates, and another inquired, “Who was here only for the comments?

A different individual commented humorously, “This timing for this promotion couldn’t be worse, ha-ha!”, while another anticipated, “I think they’ll disable comments shortly.

Previously, Baldoni’s team stated that the documents filed in court and discussed on their website have shed light on the intentions of both parties, constituting another installment in the ongoing dispute involving the stars of “It Ends with Us.

The website located at thelawsuitinfo.com has been launched recently, coinciding with a series of notable lawsuits among the movie’s creators, who achieved success at the box office back in August.

The website became active several days before the rescheduled preliminary hearing on Monday (originally scheduled for February 12th), which precedes the trial set to begin on March 9, 2026, in this particular case.

On December 20th, Lively lodged an extensive 80-page civil rights grievance with the California Civil Rights Department, preceding the formal submission of a federal lawsuit which was filed on December 31st.

In December, Lively filed a lawsuit against Baldoni, alleging sexual harassment during the film’s production. Specifically, she claimed that Baldoni sexually harassed her in various ways, including making derogatory comments about her body size, and setting up a plan to tarnish her image and harm her reputation.

In response to the lawsuit, Baldoni and his representatives assert that Lively distorted the true meaning of text messages exchanged between them and deceived the public regarding the nature of their conversations during the film production process.

In her legal action, Lively identified several associates of Baldoni, among them being Wayfarer Studios (Baldoni’s production company), its CEO and primary investor, as well as public relations representatives Melissa Nathan and Jennifer Abel.

I’m optimistic that my lawsuit will expose these underhanded strategies used to retaliate against individuals who expose wrongdoing, thereby shielding others from potential harm in the future,” Lively expressed to The New York Times following her complaint submission.

Later on, Baldoni filed a lawsuit against the paper for an alleged defamation of character, seeking $250 million in damages, stemming from an article published on December 21 entitled ‘”We Can Bury Anyone”: Unveiling a Hollywood Slander Network;’ however, the newspaper has refuted these claims.

On January 16, Baldoni filed a $400 million lawsuit against Lively, Reynolds, and their publicist Leslie Sloane, claiming defamation and extortion. According to Baldoni, the trio fabricated ‘unfounded accusations of sexual harassment’ against him in court.

After Lively’s grievance was lodged, Baldoni has encountered several professional repercussions, such as being sued by a previous publicist and getting let go by the agency, WME, which additionally represents Lively and Reynolds.

According to Variety, it’s been stated that WME refutes allegations suggesting that they were pressured by Lively and Reynolds to remove Baldoni from their list of clients.

Both legal teams agreed on a strategy to combine the two federal lawsuits they’re handling, aiming to progress as one case from now on. However, all parties involved in these legal disputes have refuted the accusations leveled against them.

The movie titled “It Ends with Us,” featuring actors like Jenny Slate, Hasan Minhaj, Brandon Sklenar, and Kevin McKidd, made its debut on August 9 in theaters. This heartfelt adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s 2016 novel was a massive success among viewers. According to Box Office Mojo, it raked in an impressive $148 million at the domestic box office and a staggering $350 million worldwide.

2005 saw Blake Lively make a lively debut in the movie “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants,” acting alongside Amber Tamblyn, Alexis Bledel, and America Ferrera. This role catapulted her into prominence, leading to her starring part on the popular TV series “Gossip Girl” from 2007-2012, where she portrayed the lead character Serena van der Woodsen.

In my line of work, I’ve had the privilege to grace the silver screen in a number of notable films over the years. For instance, I starred in “The Town” back in 2010, followed by “The Shallows” in 2016. More recently, I was featured in “A Simple Favor” in 2018 and “The Rhythm Section” in 2020. Each of these roles has been a unique and rewarding part of my career journey.

Before “It Ends with Us”, Baldoni was predominantly recognized for his portrayal of Rafael Solano on the TV series Jane the Virgin from 2014-2019. Apart from acting, he has also directed films like “Five Feet Apart” (2019) and “Clouds” (2020), and authored the book “Man Enough” in 2021, which delved into misconceptions surrounding modern masculinity.

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2025-02-18 22:21

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