Entertainment
Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds Display Subtle Tension at SNL 50th Anniversary Amid Legal Dispute
At the Saturday Night Live (SNL) 50th Anniversary Special, held on February 16, 2025, Hollywood’s esteemed couple, Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds, made a notable public appearance amidst ongoing legal disputes involving Justin Baldoni. This event marked their first red carpet presence since the legal issues surfaced, drawing significant media and public attention.
Legal Dispute Background
In December 2024, Blake Lively brought suit against Justin Baldoni alleging sexual harassment defamation. Baldoni has disclaimed these charges and filed suit for defamation and extortion. Legal proceedings have been highly reported in the press and will be appearing in court in March 2026. This situation has resulted in a significant increase in interest to Lively and Reynolds’ outward behaviours.
SNL 50th Anniversary Appearance
Both Lively and Reynolds appeared casual in the anniversary show of SNL. Nevertheless, body language authority Judi James also identified some very subtle signs of psychosocial discomfort. In so doing, James noted that although Reynolds remained ‘Jolly’, at other times ‘Lively’ would lose her smile and exhibit sign of distress, notably when confronted with indirect mention of litigation.
Public and Media Reactions
The segment also included a segment with hosts Tina Fey and Amy Poehler taking haymakers at the ongoing lawsuit, as above, entertaining Reynolds in the front row. This attempt at humor was met with mixed reactions. Some fans and viewers “came for” SNL for being insensitive pointing out that they would have been more appropriate to take a more sensitive approach to the gravity of the charges.
In a related incident, during an interview on “CBS Mornings,” host Gayle King posed an uncomfortable question to Brandon Sklenar, a co-star in “It Ends With Us,” asking whether he sided with Lively or Baldoni. Sklenar managed to avoid taking sides and it is noted that the greatest significance of the film lies in its themes rather than off-screen legal issues.
Conclusion
With comedic and derisive remarks, the SNL 50th Anniversary Special focused on the difficulties that Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds experienced working through personal and public issues in light of a myriad of serious legal issues. Even though it is a temptation to appear strictly professional and unemotional, comments made by the mass media and the public citizenry add to the pressure of their own public appearances. Now that the legal process is on track, it is very likely that the couple’s public outings will be continuously observed.
