Actor Ryan Reynolds has recently found himself embroiled in a social media storm, accused of staging a public outing with fans.
The controversy comes in the wake of legal drama involving his wife, Blake Lively, and It Ends With Us co-star Justin Baldoni.
While in New York City, Reynolds was photographed signing autographs for fans,
but his seemingly casual interaction has sparked skepticism among social media users,
with some claiming the outing was strategically planned to boost his public image amid the ongoing legal battles.
A Public Outing and the Internet’s Reaction
The situation began when a paparazzi account posted a video showing Ryan Reynolds interacting with fans while walking through the streets of New York. In the footage, Reynolds is seen signing autographs on Deadpool posters and engaging with several fans before continuing on his way. However, the video quickly went viral, and many viewers started speculating that the entire scene was orchestrated.
The primary accusation was that Reynolds was attempting to stage a positive news moment to counterbalance the negative media surrounding him and his wife, Blake Lively. “Damage control darling, THAT’S what this is,” one commenter wrote, while another questioned the authenticity of the interaction, remarking, “So everyone has the same blue taped cardboard thing with stuff for him to sign? Everyone? With the same merch, same poster, same stuff? Just walking around hanging on to stuff in case they bump into him?”
Other users took to social media to express similar doubts, claiming the fans involved looked like they were “hired actors” or that the scene seemed “planned” because everyone was holding the same merchandise and using the same blue pen. Some questioned whether it was typical for fans to carry posters and merchandise around, ready for an autograph, and suggested that the entire thing appeared staged for publicity.
A Key Detail: “Justin is Better” Comment
However, not everyone was quick to criticize Reynolds. Towards the end of the video, a woman can be heard shouting, “Justin is better,” just as Reynolds is getting into his car. This comment raised eyebrows among fans, sparking speculation that it could be a reference to the ongoing feud between Reynolds and Baldoni. Some questioned if this outburst was an intentional part of the staged outing, while others believed it reflected the tensions at play.
One user on X (formerly Twitter) went as far as to accuse Reynolds of mimicking public relations stunts often associated with high-profile celebrities, likening him to Meghan Markle in the process. The comment fueled the notion that Reynolds was trying to manipulate the public perception of his character during a sensitive time.
Legal Drama Involving Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni
The timing of Reynolds’ public appearance couldn’t have been more contentious. As the video surfaced, Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds were also in the midst of a legal battle involving Justin Baldoni. Last month, Blake filed a lawsuit against Baldoni, accusing him of sexual harassment on the set of It Ends With Us and of attempting to damage her reputation in the aftermath. Baldoni vehemently denied these allegations and filed a defamation lawsuit against Blake, Ryan, and even The New York Times, which had published an article covering the accusations. Baldoni’s defamation suit reportedly seeks $400 million in damages.
In response to the lawsuit, Blake and Ryan’s legal teams informed a federal judge that they planned to seek the dismissal of Baldoni’s defamation case. This move was confirmed by a filing made by their attorneys, which has further fueled the public debate surrounding the situation. As the first hearing for the case is set for Monday, tensions remain high, and the media scrutiny surrounding both the legal dispute and the personal lives of the actors shows no sign of slowing down.
Public Perception and Media Manipulation
The accusations against Ryan Reynolds for staging the autograph session come at a time when the public’s interest in the actor’s personal life is heightened. In a world where celebrity image management is often carefully crafted, some critics have raised concerns about the authenticity of public gestures like this one. While it’s impossible to know for sure whether the encounter was a genuine moment or a deliberate attempt at damage control, the fact that the internet has latched onto it speaks to the complexities of celebrity culture today.
For now, it seems that the controversy surrounding Ryan Reynolds’ staged outing, paired with the ongoing legal drama between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, will continue to capture headlines. As the court case progresses, fans and critics alike will be watching closely to see how the story unfolds and how both the actors and their publicists navigate this increasingly intense situation.
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