Justin Baldoni’s lawyer blasts Ryan Reynolds over 'SNL50' joke on wife Blake Lively's legal feud

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: It looks like Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively’s return to the red carpet didn’t go as smoothly as they might have hoped.

While the Hollywood power couple made a glamorous appearance at 'Saturday Night Live's 50th anniversary special, one particular moment from the show has sparked serious backlash - especially from Justin Baldoni’s attorney Bryan Freedman.

The controversy erupted when Reynolds made a joke during the live broadcast, which many viewers (and Baldoni’s legal team) found distasteful given the ongoing legal battle between Baldoni and Lively.

Justin Baldoni’s lawyer slams Ryan Reynolds

In the aftermath, Justin Baldoni’s attorney Bryan Freedman weighed in on the controversy during an appearance on Billy Bush’s 'Hot Mics' podcast.

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

He also called Reynolds’ comment "the duo’s latest move," as quoted by The Hollywood Reporter.

The tension between Baldoni and Lively stems from a massive lawsuit and counter-lawsuit that has rocked Hollywood over the past few months. Blake Lively filed an 80-page complaint against her 'It Ends With Us' co-star and director Justin Baldoni, accusing him of sexual harassment and orchestrating a smear campaign against her.

Justin Baldoni retaliated with a $400 million lawsuit against Lively and Reynolds, alleging extortion and defamation. To further defend himself, Baldoni even launched a website called Lawsuit Info where he shared text messages exchanged between himself and Lively as part of his case. The trial is scheduled for May 2026.

Amid this mess, Baldoni has reportedly retreated to Hawaii with his family—hoping to find some peace. "I think he’s hopeful, he’s grateful he’s with his family," Freedman shared. "And grateful that he could let other fire victims use his house."

Despite his attempts to stay out of the public eye, Freedman acknowledged that the situation has been extremely stressful for his client. "Like anyone else who would be going through a situation where you’re accused of something you did not do. I think it’s distressful, to say the least."

What exactly happened at 'SNL's 50th anniversary?

The star-studded event brought together some of the biggest names in entertainment, including Eddie Murphy, Kristen Wiig, Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, Bill Murray, Leslie Jones, David Spade, Jon Lovitz, and even music legends like Paul McCartney and Cher.

In the middle of the celebration, former 'SNL' stars Tina Fey and Amy Poehler took the stage where they fielded questions from audience members.

That’s when the cameras panned to Ryan Reynolds, who was sitting next to Blake Lively.

When asked how he was doing, Reynolds enthusiastically replied: "Great!" Then with a sudden shift in tone, he added: "Why, what have you heard?"

The camera caught Lively giving Reynolds a sharp look, though many assumed she was just playing along with the joke.

Given the ongoing courtroom battle between Lively and Baldoni, the offhanded remark did not sit well with everyone. Critics on social media called out Reynolds and SNL for making light of what some consider to be a serious situation.

Social media influencers take up Justin Baldoni’s case

While mainstream media has been covering the case extensively, Justin Baldoni’s legal team is also seeing support from social media influencers.

Billy Bush asked Freedman about the growing number of online creators dissecting legal documents and making videos in support of Baldoni. Freedman had nothing but praise for these independent “sleuths,” calling them a modern-day jury.

"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."

He stressed how grateful he was for those willing to dig through evidence: "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."

The 'SNL50' special marked the first time in two months that Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively attended a red carpet event—the last one being before the Baldoni scandal exploded late last year. The couple seemed unbothered as they smiled for the cameras and mingled with Hollywood’s biggest stars.

Other notable A-listers in attendance included Kim Kardashian, Aubrey Plaza, Tom Hanks, Steve Martin, Steven Spielberg, Kevin Costner, Jason Momoa, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Paul Simon.