Expert claims Ryan Reynolds 'minimized' Blake Lively's accusations with Justin Baldoni joke on 'SNL50'

NEW YORK, NEW YORK: Ryan Reynolds is feared to have "minimized" his wife Blake Lively’s bombshell allegations through his jokes during the 50th-anniversary special of 'Saturday Night Live', feels an expert.

Shari Botwin, author of 'Thriving After Trauma: Stories of Living and Healing', feels Reynolds might have "stepped out of line" with his joke regarding Lively's allegations against her 'It Ends With Us' co-star and director Justin Baldoni during the 'SNL50', as reported by the Daily Mail. 

After previously skipping a few glitzy Hollywood events including the Golden Globes, the couple made a red carpet reappearance at the 'SNL50' held at the 30 Rockefeller Center in New York on Sunday, February 16. 

However, once there, Reynolds caught up in the jovial mood and cracked a few jokes, including the ones regarding his wife’s ongoing legal battle with the ‘Jane the Virgin’ actor.

Ryan Reynolds' 'SNL50' joke may have 'distanced' him from Blake Lively's allegations

At one point during the 'SNL50' broadcast, the 'Deadpool' star took part in a Q&A with Tina Fey and Amy Poehler.

As Reynolds interjected during the segment, "I have a question," Fey responded, "Oh Ryan Reynolds, how's it going?"

In an apparent nod to the ongoing chatter surrounding Lively’s legal tussle with Baldoni, Reynolds replied, "Great - why, what have you heard?"

Netizens and industry experts soon clapped back at the 'Free Guy' actor for his joke on Lively's ongoing legal proceedings that ensued after she accused Baldoni of harassment and propagating a toxic work environment on the set of 'It Ends With Us'. 

Botwin, a trauma expert, said during a conversation with Daily Mail, "Jokes about sexual harassment reinforce rape culture and further silences victims. It minimizes and discredits their experience, perpetuating the idea that 'no one will believe me or take me seriously.'"

She stressed that joking about it further "insinuates that the victim is to blame, making it even more unlikely that someone will come forward. It normalizes and excuses this type of behavior."

Botwin added, "Reynolds may have stepped out of line by mocking his wife's lawsuit," noting that the reason people often "tend to joke about" such issues is "because they are uncomfortable, or they do not understand the impact."

"Jokes made by Reynolds about his wife's lawsuit minimizes her claims and distances Reynolds from being her partner in a situation that is Blake's alleged reality," claimed the expert in her analysis.

Expert cautions public figures need to be 'mindful' of their words

While Shari Botwin roundly criticized Ryan Reynolds for his joke, the New York-based psychotherapist Jonathan Alpert felt that 'The Proposal' actor may have used his  humor to "navigate an uncomfortable situation," explaining that his "quick wit is a hallmark of his personality."

"However, when dealing with something as serious as sexual harassment allegations, there’s a fine line between using humor as a coping tool and appearing to minimize the gravity of the issue," added Alpert, before noting, "While his intention may not have been harmful, public figures have to be mindful of how their words can be interpreted, especially on sensitive topics."

Reynolds and Lively have found themselves under the incessant spotlight ever since the 'Sisterhood of Traveling Pants' actress filed a lawsuit against Baldoni last December, accusing him of harassment and propagation of a toxic workplace culture.

Dismissing the accusations, Baldoni and his team have clapped back at the actress, her husband, and publicist Leslie Sloane by filing a $400 million countersuit accusing them of defamation, civil extortion, and invasion of privacy.