Ryan Reynolds has returned to his Deadpool role in his first post since his wife, actress Blake Lively, filed a lawsuit accusing Justin Baldoni of sexual harassment.
Lively has received public support from numerous Hollywood figures after accusing her It Ends With Us co-star and director of sexually harassing her during filming and orchestrating a “smear campaign” against her ahead of the movie’s release earlier this year.
In Blake Lively's lawsuit, she accused the media of orchestrating “a coordinated effort to destroy” her reputation, describing the “emotional impact” of the fallout as “extreme.” She also claimed that the negative press affected her husband, Deadpool star Ryan Reynolds, and their four children.
While Reynolds has not directly addressed the controversy, he subtly referenced a tough period in his first post since the lawsuit. The post featured a short clip of him in character as Deadpool, alongside Wonder Woman star Lynda Carter. In the caption, he acknowledged the emotional toll of recent experiences, admitting it was a time when he “really didn’t feel like putting the suit on.”
The video was created to promote his and Lively’s campaign for SickKids Hospital, a charity supporting children. Reynolds also announced that he and Lively would match donations up to $500,000 made before Christmas Eve.
Ryan Reynolds reprised Deadpool role for campaign video shared days after Justin Baldoni lawsuit (Instagram)
On Monday, December 23, Ryan Reynolds shared: “It’s almost Christmas Eve. Last day to donate to @sickkids. @blakelively and I are matching any donation up to $500k.”
He continued, “This organization is a sanctuary for so many kids and their parents traversing the unimaginable.”
Referring to the video, Reynolds expressed gratitude: “Thank you @rowlandbb for directing this amazing little piece during a time I really didn’t feel like putting the suit on,” and also thanked Lynda Carter for her “time, grace, and talent.”
Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively (Getty Images)
Lively’s initial complaint against Baldoni, which was filed with the California Civil Rights Department and is the precursor to a lawsuit, is the culmination of months of speculation from fans and the media, after rumours of a rift between the pair overshadowed its promotion.
Legal documents seen by The Independent as well as an investigation by The New York Times accuse Baldoni and associates of a targeted effort to “destroy” the actor and drag her in the media, which Lively says has caused her “severe emotional distress”.
Baldoni’s lawyer called the allegations against him ‘categorically false’ (Getty Images)
Lively filed a legal complaint on Friday in which she claimed that a meeting took place in early January to address the “hostile work environment that had almost derailed the film.” She accused Baldoni and lead producer Jamey Heath of “repeated sexual harassment and other disturbing behavior,” including unwanted improvised kissing from Baldoni.
According to the complaint, the actor had a number of requirements in order for her to continue work on the film, which included no more mention of Baldoni’s “pornography addiction” and no more showing nude videos or images of women to Lively and/or her employees.
Baldoni’s lawyer has called all claims against him “categorically false”.
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