Ryan Reynolds accused of ‘making inside joke’ about Justin Baldoni in Deadpool & Wolverine
Ryan Reynolds has been accused of making a Deadpool & Wolverine character based on Justin Baldoni.
Baldoni's lawyer Bryan Freedman accused Reynolds, 48, of creating an 'inside joke' about the actor, amid his ongoing legal battle with Reynolds' wife Blake Lively.
"What Ryan Reynolds has seemingly done is use his power and influence ... on Deadpool and to make fun of Justin Baldoni," Freedman told The Megyn Kelly Show.
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In the clip, which was played to Freedman during the interview, Reynolds character says: "I'm Deadpool... but here everybody calls me Nicepool... oh my goodness, wait until you see Ladypool she is gorgeous. She just had a baby too and... can't even tell."
When told he 'wasn't allowed to say that' Nicepool adds: "It's OK, I identify as a feminist."
Later in the movie, Nicepool is gunned down by Ladypool, who is played by Blake Lively.
When asked what he thought of the clip, Freedman said: "What I make of that is that if your wife is sexually harassed, you don't make fun of Justin Baldoni; you don't make fun of the situation - you take it very seriously.
"You file HR complaints, you raise the issue, you follow a legal process, what you don't do is mock the person and turn it into a joke.
"There's no question it relates to Justin... the hair bun, the comment about the pregnancy, it's pretty obvious what's been done.
"If someone is seriously sexually harassed, you don't make fun of it, it's a serious issue."
Tyla has reached out to Reynolds' reps for comment.
Last year, Lively filed a lawsuit which accused Baldoni of sexual harassment and orchestrating a 'social manipulation' campaign which led to 'severe emotional distress'.
Baldoni served as the director of It Ends With Us as well as starring as the co-lead Ryle Kincaid, opposite Lively who played Lily Bloom.
The 2024 film was based upon the 2016 Colleen Hoover novel of the same name, and despite being a box office hit, was plagued by rumours of an on-set rift between Baldoni and Lively.
Alongside details of the lawsuit becoming public, Lively stated: "I hope that my legal action helps pull back the curtain on these sinister retaliatory tactics to harm people who speak up about misconduct and helps protect others who may be targeted.”
At the time, Freedman said: "It is shameful that Ms. Lively and her representatives would make such serious and categorically false accusations against Mr. Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios and its representatives."
Freedman said Lively's suit was 'yet another desperate attempt to 'fix' her negative reputation which was garnered from her own remarks and actions during the campaign for the film; interviews and press activities that were observed publicly, in real time and unedited, which allowed for the internet to generate their own views and opinions.'
He continued: "These claims are completely false, outrageous and intentionally salacious with an intent to publicly hurt and rehash a narrative in the media."
Topics: Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni, TV And Film, Ryan Reynolds
Lucy Devine