The internet is buzzing after people noticed that Travis Kelce has stopped following Ryan Reynolds on Instagram. This small social media move has sparked a lot of guesses and theories because of the complicated relationships involved, especially the ongoing drama between Taylor Swift and Blake Lively.

Kelce unfollowed Reynolds at some point over the weekend, and Page Six quickly picked up on it. Many social media posts pointed out the change, leading to discussions and guesses about why Kelce made this decision.

The real reason Travis Kelce unfollowed Ryan Reynolds isn’t clear, but it happened around the same time as the tension between Taylor Swift and Blake Lively, per OK Magazine. With the legal dispute, Swift’s close friendship with Reynolds, and the history of the two couples spending time together, there’s just so much to speculate over.

Taylor Swift’s boyfriend unfollowed Ryan Reynolds

Around August 2023, Reynolds and Kelce started following each other on Instagram. The connection between the two athletes got attention, especially because Swift has been close friends with Reynolds and his wife, Lively, for years.

Things have gotten more complicated recently because of a legal issue involving Lively and Justin Baldoni, her co-star and director in the movie It Ends With Us. Lively took legal action against Baldoni, and in response, Baldoni filed a counter-complaint that included a text message from Lively.

In that message, Lively called Reynolds and Swift her “protectors” in the entertainment industry. When this became public, reports said Swift felt she had been dragged into Lively’s legal fight unfairly and that it caused a strain in their friendship.

After these details were released, there were reports that Lively apologized to Swift, and the two tried to fix their friendship. However, the timing of Kelce’s unfollowing Reynolds suggests that the tension between Swift and Lively might have had ripple effects. While there’s no proof that Kelce’s action was directly because of the Swift-Lively situation, the timing and the connections between everyone involved make it seem likely.

Kelce and Swift have been seen hanging out with Lively and Reynolds multiple times since they started dating, including going on double dates in New York City. This shows that the two couples used to have a friendly relationship.

As of Monday morning, Reynolds still follows Kelce on Instagram, which might mean the unfollowing isn’t a big sign of a fight between the two men. Kelce’s team hasn’t publicly stated why he unfollowed Reynolds. Since none of the people involved have spoken publicly about it, the guessing will likely continue until more details come out.

Blake Lively has asked the court to dismiss Justin Baldoni’s $400 million lawsuit against her. She’s saying that it’s illegal under California law and is an act of retaliation for her claims of sexual harassment. Her motion, filed on March 20, 2025, relies on California Assembly Bill 933 (AB 933), which protects people who report harassment or discrimination from being sued for defamation afterward.

Lively initially sued Baldoni in December 2024, accusing him of sexual harassment during the filming of their movie It Ends With Us and claiming he tried to damage her reputation. Baldoni denied her accusations and filed a countersuit in January 2025, targeting Lively, her husband, Ryan Reynolds, and her publicist with claims of defamation and more.

California law could protect Blake Lively & Ryan Reynolds

According to TMZ, Lively argues that Baldoni’s lawsuit violates AB 933 because it seems designed to silence her and punish her for speaking out. Her legal team points to several legal protections that her dismissal request, including the litigation privilege, fair report privilege, and special protection for those who report harassment under AB 933. If Lively’s motion is successful, Baldoni could be forced to pay her legal fees and possibly more.

Ryan Reynolds, who is also named in Baldoni’s lawsuit, filed a similar motion to dismiss on March 18, 2025. His lawyers argued that his comments about Baldoni were based on Lively’s claims and are protected as free speech.

The legal situation, which is set to go to trial in March 2026, has become quite complicated. Baldoni’s lawsuit claims that Lively has been harassing and bullying him and his colleagues. His legal team insists that the case should be judged under California law, which Lively’s motion uses to its advantage.

The dispute now involves more than just Lively and Baldoni. Jed Wallace, who is allegedly connected to the smear campaign against Lively, has filed a separate $7 million lawsuit against her, maintaining that he did nothing wrong. Additionally, Stephanie Jones from the PR firm Jonesworks is suing Baldoni and others regarding the end of a contract. This lawsuit has gone far further than many ever thought it would, but this is likely just the beginning.

These multiple lawsuits that originated from the initial harassment claims and the counterclaims show the rising tensions between everyone involved. In those cases, it tends to go way further than just words. Like the Amber Heard and Johnny Depp lawsuit, this is likely to end up in court, with both sides revealing a lot about each other.

Lively’s request for dismissal is an important move but may not go her way. I would honestly be surprised if this was the end of it. I am no lawyer, so I won’t comment on the focus on the protections provided to harassment victims under California law. However, the result of this motion could significantly affect the case’s direction and the legal treatment of sexual harassment claims in the entertainment industry.

Since the beginning, Taylor Swift‘s name has been attached to the ongoing legal battle between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, the stars of It Ends With Us. A close friend of Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, and an entertainment powerhouse, Swift’s name was initially mentioned by Baldoni, who claimed she was interfering with the production.

Now, the pop megastar has been roped into court proceedings following a subpoena. If a Mail Online source is to be believed, the music artist will face questioning under oath to clarify her role and insights in the sexual harassment and retaliation case against Baldoni. They also claimed that the first group of potential witnesses that Baldoni’s team wants to hear from have been ed and are due to give evidence at a later date, with other depositions to follow.

Potential witnesses include Swift, It Ends With Us co-stars Jenny Slate and Isabela Ferrer, staff at Lively’s talent agency, WME, and executives at the distributor, Sony. If deposed, they will answer questions under oath as witnesses, and their responses will be recorded by court reporters.

The bad blood

The news follows months of back and forth after what Lively alleges was a smear campaign orchestrated by star and director Baldoni. The actor claims Baldoni acted inappropriately with her and other women during production, and that he retaliated against her when she reported it in May 2023. She filed an official complaint in December 2023.

A New York Times article later leaked private messages between Baldoni and a crisis management team hired to sway public opinion to Baldoni’s side by painting Lively as a steamroller on set who wanted to take the reins away from Baldoni. If true, they did a stellar job of it, with Lively’s reputation quickly turning to ashes as news trickled out about her alleged antics on set.

Baldoni’s suit against Lively and Reynolds claimed, “A famous, and famously close, friend of Reynolds and Lively, walked into the room and similarly began praising Lively’s script. Baldoni understood the subtext: He needed to comply with Lively’s direction for the script.”

Taylor Swift has been dragged into the Baldoni/Lively legal saga…

In his lawsuit filed today, Baldoni claims that Blake insisted on re-writing part of the script (the rooftop scene). Baldoni claims he was "summoned" to Blake/Ryan's home to discuss Blake's version of the… pic.twitter.com/ruJUlcgCdX

— Elizabeth Wagmeister (@EWagmeister) January 16, 2025

Swift’s alleged involvement in pushing Baldoni around creatively aligns with his narrative; that a more famous and wealthy star decided she didn’t trust his vision, and deployed the powerhouses around her to help get her way. Reynolds also was involved in asking for rewrites, according to Baldoni’s team. Swift has never commented on the lawsuits.

When Swift was initially raised in relation to the drama, Lively’s lawyers countered by saying Baldoni’s people “are trying to shift the narrative to Ms. Lively by falsely claiming that she seized creative control and alienated the cast from Mr. Baldoni.” They also said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, “This is an age-old story: A woman speaks up with concrete evidence of sexual harassment and retaliation and the ab attempts to turn the tables on the victim. This is what experts call DARVO. Deny. Attack. Reverse Victim Offender.”

Ryan Reynolds might have a sharp wit, but was SNL’s 50th-anniversary special really the best time to poke fun about his wife’s lawsuit? That’s the question on everyone’s mind after the Deadpool star made light of his and Blake Lively’s ongoing legal battle.

To be honest, no time is good to joke about something this serious, but given that the couple is in the middle of an expensive and highly publicized lawsuit, you’d think Reynolds’ notorious humor would have taken a back seat. That’s why it’s hardly surprising that Justin Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, wasted no time firing back.

The joke that started it all

Reynolds and Lively made their first public appearance together at SNL50 on Feb. 16, since the It Ends With Us controversy kicked off. The couple were seated in the audience when Tina Fey and Amy Poehler invited celebrity guests to ask questions. Reynolds, never one to miss an opportunity for a laugh, stood up and casually claimed that he had a question. Fey and Poehler responded enthusiastically, “Ryan Reynolds! How’s it going?” With a smirk, Reynolds quipped:
“Great! Why? What have you heard?”

The audience laughed, but it was Lively’s reaction that quickly went viral. From cheesing at her husband, to wearing a look of ghastly horror, Lively wasn’t exactly a fan of the moment either. She made it pretty obvious that she was not expecting her husband to go there, but the damage had already been done. Social media immediately jumped at the moment, with fans split between finding it hilarious, and others believing it was a major PR blunder, and both Reynolds and Lively were in on it. Regardless, this “joke” did not go unnoticed by Baldoni’s legal team.

Baldoni’s lawyer claps back

Sure enough, Bryan Freedman, Baldoni’s attorney, had some thoughts. While appearing on Hot Mics with Billy Bush, Freedman didn’t hold back his disbelief over Reynolds’ decision to joke about something as serious as sexual harassment allegations.

I’m unaware of anybody, frankly, whose wife has been sexually harassed and has made jokes about that type of situation. I can’t think of anyone who’s done anything like that. So, it surprised me.

Evidently, that’s not exactly the kind of reaction Reynolds was hoping for. While the joke may have been meant to defuse the tension surrounding the lawsuit, it seems to have only fueled the fire. In the wake of the SNL moment, the internet had a lot to say, and many shared Freedman’s sentiment. Some fans defended Reynolds, claiming it was just his way of handling stress. Others, however, weren’t convinced, calling it “cringe,” especially given that Blake looked completely blindsided. They believe that Reynolds was trying to manipulate the public into buying the funny guy act while throwing his wife under the bus.

PR expert Ronn Torossian weighed in, telling Fox News Digital that while the move could be seen as an attempt to humanize Reynolds and Lively, it also showed that both they and Baldoni are more concerned with public perception than the actual legal battle. Despite the backlash, don’t expect Reynolds or Lively to issue an apology anytime soon. The couple is standing firm, even as Baldoni’s $400 million defamation lawsuit against them looms. Meanwhile, Lively’s own case against Baldoni remains ongoing, with no resolution in sight.

Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively have always been known for their playful banter, but things got a little too real during their latest public appearance. The Hollywood power couple made their first t outing amid the ongoing It Ends With Us lawsuit drama at SNL‘s 50th-anniversary special, and let’s just say Blake’s reaction stole the show.

A glamorous appearance, with a side of drama

Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds hit the red carpet in style, looking every bit the A-list couple. Lively dazzled in a silver gown adorned with metallic floral details, while Reynolds kept it classic in a tuxedo. While fans were happy to see them together, their appearance came with a cloud of controversy, because let’s not forget, there’s a massive lawsuit hanging over their heads.

For those out of the loop, this all started in December 2024 when Lively filed a lawsuit against It Ends With Us director and co-star Justin Baldoni, accusing him of sexual harassment and causing her “severe emotional distress.” Baldoni, on the other hand, completely denied the allegations and hit back with a $400 million defamation lawsuit, claiming Lively and Reynolds were trying to destroy his career. So, with all that tension in the air, it’s safe to say people weren’t expecting Reynolds to make light of the situation on live television.

Reynolds’ joke catches everyone off guard

Ryan Reynolds reacts to Tina Fey and Amy Poehler bringing attention to him at #SNL50 Anniversary special:

“Great, why, what have you heard?” pic.twitter.com/WKYOCko4n6

— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) February 17, 2025

During SNL’s 50th anniversary special, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler hosted a segment where they took questions from celebrities in the audience. Reynolds decided to participate, standing up to ask a question. Fey and Poehler excitedly responded, “Ryan! How’s it going?” And in true Ryan Reynolds fashion, he quipped back: “Great! Why, what have you heard?”

Cue the instant shock from the audience, as well as his wife. While Reynolds played it cool, Lively’s face spoke for itself. At first, she was all smiles, but quickly looked at her husband in stunned disbelief. The reaction didn’t go unnoticed, and social media has had a field day with it. Fans wasted no time breaking down the moment, with some calling out Lively’s stunned reaction, and others questioning whether the joke was appropriate at all. One fan noted: “Blake Lively looked really taken off guard lol.”

While some saw it as a classic Reynolds move, others weren’t as amused. The couple has reportedly taken aggressive legal action against Baldoni and his lawyer, including attempting to subpoena phone records from major carriers. So, for Reynolds to joke about it on SNL? It definitely rubbed some people the wrong way.

Or was this some planned damage control?

BLAKE LIVELY’S FACE. #SNL50 https://t.co/0Jw4wgluGK pic.twitter.com/9AesTtPEWU

— ES (@dinmurdock) February 17, 2025

According to insiders who spoke to the Daily Mail, not everyone at SNL was thrilled about the joke. While Reynolds’ team allegedly worked with producers to craft the moment, some felt like the show was being used as “cheap damage control” for the couple. 

Their team worked with SNL to create the joke, but the truth is, people there weren’t really feeling it. To many, it felt like a desperate attempt to prove they’re still in the Hollywood crowd.

Some critics even questioned why Reynolds would make a joke about such a serious situation at his wife’s expense. After all, while Reynolds might be laughing now, the lawsuit is still far from over. Baldoni’s defamation case is set to go to trial in March 2026, and until then, both sides are likely to keep making headlines. 

The movie may be called It Ends With Us, but when it comes to the drama between co-stars Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively there doesn’t seem to be an end in sight with the two actors locked in a battle for the public’s affection.

Both sides are currently suing each other and neither of them seem poised to back down. But this isn’t just a legal battle, oh no. In an industry where image is everything, the two will have to win in the court of public opinion as well. Lively and Baldoni’s teams are well aware of this, as figures close to the stars, including Lively’s husband, Ryan Reynolds, and Justin’s sister, Sara Baldoni, are trying to win some PR points, but they both have their own ways of going about it. 

Sara Baldoni defends her big brother

In a post to Instagram celebrating her brother, who turned 41 on Friday, Sara wrote a heartfelt paragraph that alluded to his recent feud with Lively.

“I love you and I celebrate you – the man you are, the love you embody, the strength of your connection to God, the essence of your being, your dedication to truth, to service and to love – today and all days.”

The “dedication to truth” part certainly seems like a nod of and Sara has previously been pretty vocal about her brother’s lawsuit. Speaking with Variety, Sara called Lively’s side of the story a “one-sided false narrative.” In the comments, fans of the actor expressed their of Baldoni, with one individual writing, “He’s got an army of ers.” Justin also received from his mother on his birthday, who also wrote a message celebrating her son while throwing some subtle shade at Lively.

Ryan Reynolds took a different approach

Deadpool star and generally beloved Canadian (until recently at least) Ryan Reynolds has also been sucked into this whirlpool of controversy; however, he has not been as vocal on the matter, opting to share an Instagram story of his wife baking some adorable dog-themed cupcakes instead. Now a more cynical person might see this as a PR stunt to try and humanize Lively while continuing with a “business as usual” facade. 

Is this actually what his post was aiming to achieve? Who’s to say? But it looks like Reynolds and Lively won’t be publicly addressing their ongoing fight with Baldoni, especially considering Lively’s team is attempting to have a gag order put upon Baldoni, who recently threatened to release more unedited footage and correspondence between the two that would supposedly disprove Lively’s claims.

While it’s too early to come top a conclusive opinion regarding Lively and Baldoni, it seems like the public is already choosing sides based on what they’ve been shown so far. The battle in the courts is a way off yet, but the battle for the hearts and minds of the people is already well underway.

Conspiracy raccoon and noted LGBTQ+ antagonist, Candace Owens, couldn’t resist chiming in with her two cents on the Blake Lively – Justin Baldoni legal drama. Her hot take? Ryan Reynolds is the master chef of mischief in this kitchen of chaos.

Taking to Instagram, Owens claimed her inside scoop came from none other than a supposed insider on the set of It Ends With Us. According to this source, the trouble began when Reynolds visited the set, reviewed the dailies, and took issue with something in the script. Owens’ source also alleged that Reynolds and Lively were overheard arguing in her trailer and that Reynolds later pressured the WME talent agency to drop Baldoni as a client. Owens speculated that Reynolds’ actions might be motivated by insecurity, stemming from the fact that he tends to date and marry women significantly younger than himself. 

“My opinion. Ryan Reynolds is grossly insecure. This, in part, motivated by the fact that he dates and married women who are almost a decade younger than him.”

Furthermore, she dredged up Reynolds’ portrayal of characters like Nicepool in Deadpool & Wolverine. Nicepool, portrayed as a faux feminist with a hairstyle similar to Baldoni’s, allegedly has dialogue that mocks Baldoni’s behavior on the It Ends With Us set. This, according to Owens, is further proof of Reynolds using his cinematic alter egos as vehicles for personal vendettas.

Doubling down, Owens cited an interview from The Adam Carolla Show featuring TJ Miller, who recounted a peculiar interaction with Reynolds on the set of Deadpool 2. Miller described an oddly meta moment where Reynolds, in character, disparaged Miller’s role right to his face:

“As the character, he was, like, horrifically mean to me. But to me. As if I’m Weasel. He was like, ‘You know what’s great about you, Weasel? You’re not the star, but you do just enough exposition that it’s funny, and then we can leave and get back to the real movie.’ I just kind of listened and thought it was weird, and then I got off stage because they were like, ‘Cut…?’”

Owens wrapped up her theory with a bold final statement: “Ryan Reynolds is unhinged.” According to her, everything was fine on set until Reynolds showed up and allegedly lost his cool.

As tantalizing as Owens’ narrative might be, you’d want to take it with a hefty pinch of salt. The far-right commentator has proudly opposed feminism, LGBTQ+ rights, and common sense. So, it’s not exactly surprising if she’s cooking up her own toxic smear thought train. The ongoing legal battle between Lively and Baldoni has been marked by a series of accusations and counter-accusations, making it difficult to determine the full truth of the situation.

In December 2024, Lively lobbed a legal grenade, accusing Baldoni of dodgy behavior on the set of It Ends With Us. Baldoni responded in January 2025 with a $400 million lawsuit against Lively, Reynolds, and Lively’s publicist, accusing them of extortion, defamation, and invasion of privacy. Lively has maintained that Baldoni’s lawsuit is a “desperate” attempt to undermine her own case.

In the latest update in the unending drama that is It Ends With Us, Justin Baldoni has officially sued Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds, alleging that the power couple sought to “destroy” him. In case you’ve been living under a rock (if so, hi down there!), Baldoni’s complaint is the latest escalation in the ongoing legal battle stemming from It Ends With Us, which was directed by the actor and co-starred Lively.

Taking the tit-for-tat to unprecedented heights, Baldoni’s 179-page lawsuit is seeking a whopping $400 million on the grounds of civil extortion, defamation and invasion of privacy on Lively and Reynolds’ part. The complaint was filed in the Southern District of New York on behalf of Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios, which produced It Ends With Us. 

“This is not a case about celebrities sniping at each other in the press,” the lawsuit reads. “This is a case about two of the most powerful stars in the world deploying their enormous power to steal an entire film right out of the hands of its director and production studio.” It goes on to allege that Lively — who is described as “one of the world’s best-known celebrities” — used her power to “seize” control of the film only to “destroy” Baldoni’s livelihood if he “did not bend to her incessant demands.” 

When those needs weren’t met, the lawsuit alleges that Lively accused her co-star of “foul and reprehensible sexual misconduct.” In summary, the complaint accuses Lively of “hijacking” control of the film and its premiere, “destroy[ing]” Baldoni’s professional reputation, and attempting to drive him “out of the business entirely.” It marks the most recent chapter in a saga that first erupted in December, when Lively first filed a civil rights complaint alleging that Baldoni sexually harassed her on the set of It Ends With Us. 

While he immediately denied that claim, Lively escalated the legal battle with an official lawsuit against Baldoni, which also alleged that she was retaliated against for raising the sexual harassment through an orchestrated smear campaign to ruin her public image. That lawsuit contained text message exchanges between Baldoni and his PR crisis team, one of which mentioned that they could “bury” the Gossip Girl star. 

In his most recent lawsuit, however, Baldoni is alleging that it was Lively who sought to damage his reputation, claiming it was her and “her team who carefully planned and implemented a vile smear campaign against the actor. It all gets even messier with the mention of Reynolds, whom Baldoni claims exerted “unauthorized” creative control over It Ends With Us, including re-writing one scene and making changes to the script “in secret.” As for how Reynolds and Lively exerted this control, well, that’s where Taylor Swift comes in.

Baldoni claims that he was summoned to Lively and Reynolds’ penthouse for a meeting about the script, which was also attended by the couple’s “megacelebrity friend.” Together, the trio allegedly heaped praise on Lively’s vision for the script, meaning that Baldoni “understood the subtext: he needed to comply with Lively’s direction.” While it doesn’t mention a surname, a text message included in the lawsuit and sent by Baldoni to Lively after the meeting said the actor “love[d] what [Lively] did” with the script and “would have felt that way without Ryan and Taylor.”

While Baldoni’s previous filings have mentioned Reynolds, his new lawsuit officially brings the Deadpool star into the legal battle, since he is named a formal defendant. Somehow, it doesn’t end there. Adding to the legal woes was a lawsuit filed by Baldoni against The New York Times, who was the first to report on Lively’s claims of an orchestrated smear campaign. 

That suit accuses the paper of defaming Baldoni by publishing a one-sided story with the “cherry picked” and doctored evidence of the text exchanges with his PR team. As we await what will undoubtedly be a new update in this Hollywood drama, Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman left us with a message in of his client. “Justin and his team have nothing to hide,” he said. “Ms. Lively will never again be allowed to continue to exploit actual victims of real harassment solely for her personal reputation gain.”

Justin Baldoni‘s attempt to prove Ryan Reynolds was bullying him with the Nicepool character in Deadpool & Wolverine might be an accidental ission of guilt.

The actor and director’s legal team demanded that Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige and Disney CEO Bob Iger hold on to any documents that might prove Ryan Reynolds used him as inspiration for the satirical Deadpool & Wolverine character. Variety reported Tuesday that both men received a litigation hold letter from attorney Bryan Freedman on Jan. 7 asking “the studio to preserve all relevant documents and data with regards to Baldoni.”

Related: Justin Baldoni refuses to let go of comparing himself to Nicepool on The Mary Sue

If Justin Baldoni identifies with Nicepool, well… That’s on him?

Baldoni is apparently convinced Ryan Reynolds created the Deadpool variant known as Nicepool to mock him, even though there’s nothing in the film that directly references the It Ends With Us star.

Those who flocked to theaters in July of last year to see Deadpool and Wolverine’s grand introductions to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in the Shawn Levy-directed action blockbuster will recall that Nicepool was one of the stand-out Deadpool variants introduced. A proud man-bun-wearer, this Deadpool is purposefully over the top and obnoxiously positive, though his mask does slip from time to time.

In Nicepool’s first scene, he comments on Ladypool’s post-pregnancy body, saying you couldn’t even tell she had had a baby. When Deadpool tells him he’s not “supposed to say that” he replies with “That’s okay, I identify as a feminist.” Of course, in the lawsuit that Reynolds’ wife Blake Lively filed against Baldoni in December, among the allegations that the latter maintains are completely false is one about him pressuring his co-star to lose weight after having her fourth baby. Lively and Reynolds’s son Olin was born months before shooting for It Ends With Us began in May 2023.

The lawsuit has also threatened to shatter, or has in fact shattered, Baldoni’s image as an ally for women’s issues. Shortly after the news of Lively’s claims came out, the Vital Voices Global Partnership stripped the 40-year-old of his Voices of Solidarity Award, which celebrated his “courage and comion in advocating on behalf of women and girls.”

Besides a similar hairstyle, however, there’s no direct reference to Baldoni in the character of Nicepool, so it might actually be detrimental for the actor to strive to convince anyone that Reynolds based the character on him. As one netizen put it, “Nicepool was a stereotypical creepy faux feminist sex pest so if Justin Baldoni wants to think that’s inspired by him then that says a lot more about him than it does anyone else.”

“Out of everything he’s done and said, ironically this might be the most damning thing because what do you mean you saw a fake ass performative feminist and thought ‘wait that is so me,’” another pointed out.

Some have theorized that having Ladypool, played by Blake Lively, violently shoot Nicepool’s head off in front of a flower shop was a nod to It Ends With Us as in that film, Lively’s character Lily Bloom starts a flower business.

Baldoni and Freedman are preparing a countersuit against Lively. In a Jan. 7 appearance on The Megyn Kelly Show, the lawyer said Lively was “no victim,” that she was in control and “took over” the film’s final cut. The two insist that it was Lively who orchestrated a PR takedown of Baldoni and not the other way around.

Jonathan Bailey, the man, the myth, the moment. It doesn’t matter if you fell for him when he was the brooding Viscount Anthony Bridgerton, or you’ve recently been enchanted by his performance as Prince Fiyero in Wicked. One thing’s clear: Bailey’s got everyone under his spell. 

And now, even the king of wit himself, Ryan Reynolds, can’t resist catching a case of the Jonathan Bailey bug. The National Board of Review (NBR) Awards was held yesterday in New York, and the gala was brimming with Hollywood’s finest, celebrating the best in film. But honestly, who needs trophies when you’ve got Bailey stealing hearts left and right? The actor, fresh off his role in Jon M. Chu’s adaptation, not only dazzled audiences on-screen, but also charmed the likes of Reynolds, who couldn’t resist putting Bailey in the spotlight.

Jealous, Ryan?

When Reynolds took to the stage, he delivered what can only be described as a love letter wrapped in sarcasm and dipped in pure iration.

I think we can all agree that Jonathan Bailey is objectively perfect. Perhaps too perfect.

And he didn’t stop there. Reynolds hilariously claimed that Bailey’s magnetic charisma could destabilize the Hollywood Leading Men Society (HLMS), and called for an intervention: “It is in our collective best interest that Jonathan Bailey tone it the f*** down.”

Tone it down? Honestly, Ryan, we love you, but never. Bailey’s perfection is what keeps us going. His speech sent waves of laughter through the audience. Of course, Reynolds’ playful jabs only underline the reality that Bailey’s performance in Wicked has everyone talking. Fans can’t get over his show-stopping dance number in “Dancing Through Life,” a scene that perfectly shows his ability to entertain, not just as an actor, but as a performer. Watching him move with effortless grace? At this point, it’s like a public service for us.

One fan hilariously summed up the mood online: “I know Jonny was kicking his feet and giggling omg.” And let’s be real, that visual is quite plausible. Bailey has always had that self-aware, cheeky charm that makes him seem like your ultimate dream crush and your fun best friend rolled into one.

The Jonathan Bailey effect

Then again, Bailey isn’t just a pretty face or a talented performer: he’s a whole vibe. His ability to light up a room, whether on-screen, on-stage, or in an interview, is unmatched. He’s the kind of guy who makes you feel like he’s winking directly at you through the screen, and let’s face it, maybe he is. And it’s not just fans who’ve fallen for him. Fellow actors, from Bridgerton co-stars to Hollywood heavyweights like Reynolds, can’t help but gush over his talent and charm. Altogether, Bailey seems to have mastered the art of making everyone, from the audience to his peers, feel like they’re part of the Jonathan Bailey fan club.

With Wicked already setting the stage for him to conquer Hollywood, his future is evidently as dazzling as his smile. And while Reynolds might jokingly call for him to “tone it down,” we’re all here for Bailey cranking it all the way up. We might not survive it, but it’ll definitely be worth it.

Deadpool star Ryan Reynolds has earned the ire of a handful of fans after a few have noticed that Nicepool from Deadpool & Wolverine said and did things in the movie that, in the context of the Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively drama, seemed to suggest the character is based on Baldoni.

It Ends with Us saw a lot of on-set drama between its two stars, and that drama will potentially be spilling out into a courtroom, with both actors now suing each other. Blake has accused her co-star of sexual harassment, claiming that he behaved inappropriately on set and that he tried to run a smear campaign against her. Meanwhile, Justin has fired back, refuting Lively’s claims and instead claiming she was the one engaging in a smear campaign against him.

Right now the waters are muddy; it’s difficult to know who’s telling the truth and who’s not. Many are ive of Blake, but others believe Justin’s of what happened. Regardless, all we know for sure is that things quickly became hostile while on set and they remained that way throughout the movie’s premiere and into today. We also know Lively even brought her husband, Reynolds, on set at one point — apparently the meeting between Baldoni and Reynolds didn’t go well, with the Green Lantern star apparently berating Baldoni and leaving him traumatized.

Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively are accused of bullying

In his lawsuit, Baldoni claims the pair were “bullying” him during the production of the movie. He refuted many of Lively’s other claims and provided text messages that back up his side of the story. His side of the story has won some audiences over, with fans defending him online. Many have even started digging and think they’ve found some solid evidence that Reynolds and Lively were indeed bullying Baldoni. That evidence, of course, is the character Nicepool.

Fans noticed that everything about Nicepool — from the way he looked, to the things he said —allude to Baldoni. One fan on X pointed out that the character looked almost identical to Baldoni from 2023, with his long curly hair and man bun. It’s hard to deny there are some similarities there. 

But that’s not all — Nicepool also comments on Ladypool’s post-pregnancy body, (Baldoni allegedly fat-shamed Lively) and, as we all know, Ladypool was played by Lively.

Over on TikTok, people began questioning the scale of the bullying — if Nicepool really was based on Baldoni then this would suggest the bullying goes way beyond social media.

Another TikToker, @theredcoquette, mentioned deleted scenes, which she claims were blatant jabs at Justin.

Of course it gets worse when you factor in that Nicepool is brutally killed off by Ladypool, and he’s the only version of Deadpool without regenerative powers.

Deadpool & Wolverine’s filming schedule makes this theory unlikely

Now, can we say conclusively that Ryan Reynolds meant this character to be a jab at Justin Baldoni? No we can’t. While the striking similarity might seem like proof enough, it would have been unlikely that Reynolds would have been able to add an entirely new character into the film as all this was happening. 

Both movies were filmed around the same time, with both starting mid-2023 before pausing production during the strikes. Deadpool & Wolverine resumed filming in November 2023 and finished in January 2024. Meanwhile, It Ends with Us resumed filming in January 2024. According to CBR.com, Lively’s lawsuit mentions a meeting prior to the resume of filming, which would have been close to the time Deadpool & Wolverine was wrapping up. It’s not impossible that Ryan added Nicepool to troll Baldoni, and then ad-libbed the character’s lines and likeness to Baldoni, but it’s very unlikely.

Every way you look at it, Deadpool & Wolverine is a hit. The Marvel Studios movie wrapped its theatrical run as the second highest-grossing movie of 2024, and the highest-grossing R-rated movie ever at $1.3 billion raked in worldwide. But that story could have been very different if star and producer Ryan Reynolds and director Shawn Levy hadn’t pushed for one small element.

In a recent interview with IndieWire, the duo revealed that something as simple as the title of the movie was reason enough for some heated debate during the early days of production. Reynolds commented the name “Wolverine” (the main character played by Hugh Jackman) almost didn’t make it to the final title, and the extremely popular mutant was certainly one of the reasons why audiences were lured into movie theaters. And Wolverine was not the only Marvel character that they had problems to lock in. He stated:

“For some reason, we weren’t allowed to use the name Wolverine in the title. I’d have no idea why, some weird loophole thing, but at the last minute, we changed it to ‘Deadpool & Wolverine,’ and they somehow pushed it through. But a lot of times, it’s persistence. We were told we couldn’t use Blade or Gambit.”

As you probably know, the Deadpool & Wolverine team ended up managing to have both Blade and Gambit in the movie. The former was reprised by Wesley Snipes (Demolition Man) twenty years after he wrapped the Blade trilogy for 20th Century Fox. The latter was played by Channing Tatum (Magic Mike, Blink Twice), who had been associated with the characters for years. Deadpool & Wolverine also features Jennifer Garner (Family Switch) as Elektra and Dafne Keen (The Acolyte) returning as X23.

Levy went on to reveal that the starting point of many decisions in Deadpool & Wolverine was disheartening. Luckily for fans, they were adamant in several story decisions and they knew exactly what would resonate with audiences and eventually make the movie a dollar-generating machine. But they had to battle the legal team first:

“A lot of things started with ‘no.’ Not because they were micromanaging, but because the lawyers down the hall said, ‘That’s not part of the deal.’ And yeah, we were hopefully respectful hammers. But for sure, we were hammers. If we felt that something was right for this story, if it became a had to have, then we just were a little bit relentless.”

Wolverine’s name also had to be on Deadpool & Wolverine because it represents the beginning of a new era for Marvel in cinemas. Until 2019, some Marvel characters like the X-Men were property of 20th Centuty Fox studios. After Disney bought the company, it meant that those Marvel characters could finally be integrated into the ever-growing world of Iron Man, Thor and Captain America. From the looks of it, though, getting our favorite Marvel characters on the big screen under the Marvel Studios label didn’t come as easily as it looks.

Deadpool & Wolverine‘s worldwide gross is also a beacon of hope for Disney and Marvel Studios, since audiences haven’t responded as well as expected for some of the superhero entries in cinemas. The R-rated title underscores that audiences are still willing to show up, but only if the studios commit to bringing something different and exciting to the screen, instead of being tied to formulas that no longer work.