Why Kevin Costner's reaction to Ryan Reynolds' 6-word 'joke' about Justin Baldoni has gone viral

As any social media user will know by now, this weekend's SNL50: The Anniversary Special resulted in several moments going viral online - including a controversial 'joke' made by Ryan Reynolds.

It isn't just the Deadpool actor's latest comments that have set tongues wagging, however - but the reaction that fellow audience member Kevin Costner had to them.

Appearing on the live television broadcast yesterday (16 February), Reynolds, 48, appeared to be making light of the ongoing legal battle between his wife Blake Lively, and her It Ends With Us co-star, Justin Baldoni.

Back in December, Lively, 37, filed a legal complaint against Baldoni, 41, accusing him of exhibiting overly-sexualised behaviour towards her while on the set of the Coleen Hoover novel adaptation.

The legal dispute between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni is still ongoing (Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)

The lawsuit also alleged that her cast-mate had ceaselessly made inquiries about her sex life with husband Reynolds, and accused Baldoni and his team of publicists of later orchestrating a 'smear campaign' against her.

Though Baldoni has vehemently denied these allegations and has since sued Lively himself for defamation and extortion, the case is still ongoing - which is why so many Saturday Night Live viewers were so shocked to hear Reynolds seemingly joking about the situation.

In a now-viral video, the father-of-four can be seen in the audience with his wife, before hosts Amy Poehler and Tina Fey give them a shout-out.

Reynolds then stands while Poehler exclaims: "Oh, hi, Ryan Reynolds. Ryan Reynolds, how is it going?"

With an awkward expression, Reynolds then replies: "Great... why? What have you heard?" Lively's shocked face then shoots upwards in his direction.

The joke took place in the presence of a sea of fellow huge-name stars, including Academy Award-winner Kevin Costner who appeared visibly unimpressed in the background.

Costner, 70, who could be seen chewing gum, seemed to have somewhat of a disapproving look on his face, noticeably not clapping when Reynolds stood up to deliver the joke.

Noticing the reaction, one X user penned: "The look on Kevin Costner's face tho."

"Kevin Costner in the back makes Ryan look like the fool that he is..." jabbed a second, while a third beamed: "Kevin Costner’s reaction is brilliant! What a man!"

A fourth quipped: "Kevin Costner looked like a deer caught in the headlights."

"Kevin Costner not having it at all," wrote another and a final X user echoed: "We are all watching this like Kevin Costner."

And by the sounds of things, it isn't just the Hollywood veteran who has seemingly taken issue with Reynolds, with many viewers arguing the sensitive subject matter of the legal complaint and the currentness of it, should have seen it remain untouched.

Kevin Costner appeared visibly unimpressed (NBC)

Sharing their thoughts about the interaction online, one SNL viewer hit out: "The audacity of them to show up."

"Also Kinda irritating he’s making a joke of it," another wrote. "Like I understand, make fun of it before someone else does. But she made a serious SA accusation, it’s not funny."

A third penned: "PR stunt and power move. Showing JB their clout and reach and nonchalance over the whole fiasco by joking about it."