Ryan Reynolds’ Body Language ‘Breaks the Tension’ With Blake Lively During ‘SNL50,’ Source Says
Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds are under fire due to their legal battle with It Ends With Us director and actor Justin Baldoni. The famous couple attended SNL50: The Anniversary Special, where Reynolds made light of the ongoing lawsuits. Here’s what a body language expert said about Reynolds and Lively’s demeanor at the momentous event.
A body language expert says Ryan Reynolds broke the ‘tension’ with Blake Lively at ‘SNL50’
Everyone in Hollywood knows about Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively’s ongoing lawsuit with Justin Baldoni. Baldoni and Lively worked together on It Ends With Us, a film adapted from Colleen Hoover’s hit novel. In December 2024, Lively sued Baldoni for sexual harassment. She also claimed that Baldoni and a crisis PR firm tried to ruin her professional reputation. Baldoni then sued The New York Times on its reporting of Lively’s lawsuit. Baldoni then took legal action against Lively and Reynolds, accusing them of defamation and extortion.
Lively and Reynolds appeared at SNL50: The Anniversary Special in February 2025 amid their chaos. Reynolds even joked about the lawsuit with Amy Poehler. When Poehler asked Reynolds how he was doing, he replied, “Great. Why, what have you heard?”
Body language expert Judi James told DailyMail.com that Reynolds and Lively’s public appearance was “brave to the point of reckless.”
“Appearing on a ‘no holds barred’ show like Saturday Night Live when you’re in the middle of a legal and a PR battle can seem brave to the point of reckless, but humor and even self-effacing mockery can be a great diffuser,” she analyzed. “The ability to be able to laugh at yourself is seen as an attractive and rapport-building trait, as well as one that helps to break the ice and tension with the public.”
James added that the couple’s body language showed “awkwardness.”
“There is a moment when both seem to be on the brink of applying some stiff, rictus social smiles before Ryan turns to whisper in Blake’s ear to make her laugh, and he adds to the ritual of support by performing a supportive tie-sign eyebrow flash as their heads part,” James said.
As for Reynolds’ joke with Poehler, James noted that Reynolds tried to “break the tension.”
“Blake begins by performing a more complex narrowed-eye smile of good humor, plus a closed-lip mouth smile with some puckering and pulling down that suggests mixed emotions,” she continued.
Big names in Hollywood are now wary of Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds, insiders say
Everyone in the entertainment industry has their eyes on the It Ends With Us lawsuit. While Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds put on a brave face for events like SNL50, an insider told DailyMail.com that others in Hollywood are wary.
“This will be used against them,” the source explained. “This isn’t a laughing matter, and Blake has been speaking about how traumatic it’s all been and how it’s affected her mental health, but she can still glam up, show up, and laugh about it. It’s sending mixed messages. It feels like we are being gaslit, and I fear it could be a wrong move.”
Kevin Costner’s expression during Reynolds’ SNL50 joke has gone viral. “Kevin Costner’s face said it all,” another insider said. “He was thinking, ‘What the f*** is he doing?’ … My advice would have been to keep quiet, stay out of the public eye, and wait until all this is over.”
The ‘Deadpool’ actor is allegedly ‘so proud’ of his wife
Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds have received plenty of bad press in the wake of the Justin Baldoni lawsuits. Despite how the legal battle ends, an insider told Life & Style that Reynolds is “so proud” of Lively.
“Ryan is so proud of Blake for standing up for herself,” the source said. “She is going to see this fight through to the end.”
While Lively and Reynolds will continue to fight Baldoni as a team, fans remain divided. Several SNL50 viewers didn’t love that Reynolds joked about the lawsuits.
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