Justin Baldoni’s Lawyer Criticizes Ryan Reynolds’ ‘SNL’ Joke Mocking Blake Lively Feud
Justin Baldoni’s attorney doesn’t think Ryan Reynolds’ joke during Saturday Night Live’s 50th anniversary special was very funny.
Bryan Freedman was asked about the gag during an interview with Billy Bush on his Hot Mics podcast.
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“I’m unaware of anybody, frankly, whose wife has been sexually harassed and has made jokes about that type of situation,” Freedman said (full video below). “I can’t think of anyone who’s done anything like that. So it surprised me.” He also described the joke as the duo’s “latest move.”
About an hour into Sunday’s three-hour-plus special, former castmembers Tina Fey and Amy Poehler appeared onstage to take questions from the audience.
One of the many stars in the audience was onetime SNL host Ryan Reynolds, who was sitting next to a smiling Lively.
Asked how he was doing, Reynolds replied, “Great!” Then, seeming concerned, shot back, “Why, what have you heard?”
Lively looked sharply at Reynolds, though it’s safe to assume her stern look was part of the bit.
Before the broadcast, Reynolds and Lively walked the red carpet together and were all smiles.
Needless to say, the social media reaction was pretty negative, with viewers criticizing SNL and Reynolds and Lively, with many making the same point Freedman did.
Bush also asked Freedman about all the social media influencers generating content in support of Baldoni, and doing their own “sleuthing” through the documents. Freedman praised their work and said they represent a very real “jury” in modern day society.
“They are the jury for years because people are canceled, people have projects taken away from them, people are ridiculed, people are shunned — right away, right when the allegation happens,” Freedman said. “These these people actually give someone a chance. They dig through things and say to the public, ‘Hold on. This doesn’t seem to be true. Thank God, and thank the universe for those people out there, because it’s just one person helping another, and we’re all trying to get to the truth.”
Lively filed an 80-page complaint against her It Ends With Us co-star and director, Baldoni, accusing him of sexual harassment and launching a smear campaign against her. Baldoni responded by filing a $400 million lawsuit against Lively and Reynolds, alleging extortion and defamation. — Kimberly Nordyke contributed to this report
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