Fact Check: Did Ryan Reynolds write his viral 'SNL50' joke on wife Blake Lively lawsuit?

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: The star-studded 'Saturday Night Live' 50th anniversary special on February 16 has sparked a whirlwind of buzz and online commentary, with one moment grabbing everyone’s attention.

Ryan Reynolds’ joke, seemingly referencing his wife Blake Lively’s ongoing lawsuit against 'It Ends With Us' co-actor, Justin Baldoni, quickly became a hot topic.

The couple returned to the spotlight at the high-profile event amid their legal battle with Baldoni. As Reynolds’ punchline made waves across social media, one big question emerged: Did he write the joke himself?

What was the joke Ryan Reynolds shared about Blake Lively's lawsuit during 'SNL50'?

During the "Audience Q&A" segment of the special, Amy Poehler and Tina Fey took questions from the audience, including one for Ryan Reynolds.

When the comedy alum asked, "Ryan Reynolds, How’s it going?" the 'Deadpool' star responded, "Great. Why? What have you heard?" with Lively seated next to him. 

He then moved on to a humorous bit about ingesting toxic Conehead prosthetics. The video of this exchange quickly went viral, with fans noticing Lively’s surprised reaction. Rumors soon spread that Reynolds had improvised the joke. 

The speculation grew when longtime 'SNL' cue card staffer Wally Feresten revealed on the Australian radio show Fifi, Fev & Nick on February 18 that Reynolds “had a different line in rehearsal.”

Feresten added, “We wouldn't want to do anything too controversial unless they were in on it. Yeah, that was his line. That was his idea.” But the question remains: Did Reynolds write the joke himself?

What did 'SNL' rep say about Ryan Reynolds’ joke regarding Blake Lively’s lawsuit?

Despite numerous online claims and statements from 'Saturday Night Live' staff suggesting that Ryan Reynolds' joke during the 50th Anniversary Special was "his idea," a representative for the show has denied his involvement in writing it. 

A source close to Reynolds told E! News that "the opening joke was pitched by 'SNL' and never changed," adding that the follow-up line about the Coneheads prosthetics being edible was "rewritten in rehearsal."  

Additionally, an 'SNL' representative dismissed Wally Feresten’s claim, clarifying that he is not involved in the show's creative process, as per People. These clarifications suggest that Reynolds did not come up with the joke about his wife Blake Lively’s lawsuit.

For context, Lively sued her 'It Ends With Us' co-star Justin Baldoni in December, making serious allegations that Baldoni has denied. In January, Baldoni filed a $400 million lawsuit against Lively and Reynolds, accusing them of defamation and extortion.

While the 'SNL' joke gained traction online, it also drew criticism from Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, who expressed surprise in a February 17 interview on 'Hot Mics with Billy Bush'. Freedman began, "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," Freedman remarked, referring to Reynolds’ joke amid the ongoing legal battle.