Kevin Costner’s reaction to Ryan Reynolds’ joke about the Justin Baldoni scandal during SNL’s 50th Anniversary Special has sent social media abuzz.
The event marked Reynolds and Blake Lively’s first public appearance together since the beginning of their legal battle with It Ends with Us director Baldoni.
During a segment on the celebration of Saturday Night Live’s 50th anniversary with Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, Reynolds stood up and playfully reference the controversy surrounding It Ends with Us and director during a comedic skit while Lively, 37, looked on.
The 48-year-old actor quipped: “I have a question.” When asked how he was doing, he jokingly responded: “Great—why, what have you heard?”—a clear nod to the months of headlines surrounding their legal troubles.
Seated just behind the couple, Costner’s expression didn’t go unnoticed.
Viewers speculated that the Oscar winner looked unimpressed or uncomfortable with the joke, given the serious allegations surrounding Baldoni, which include claims of misconduct and defamation.
Fans quickly shared the moment online, dissecting Costner’s reaction and debating whether his response reflected disapproval or simple surprise.
One penned on social media: “No mercy for Ryan Reynolds from Kevin Costner at #SNL50.”
“Kevin Costner and Cher were in for the gossip but weren’t having it!” another commented.
A third added: “Did I see Kevin Costner sitting next to here [sic]? He didn’t look too impressed when Ryan Reynolds made his s**t joke”.
Lively’s last red carpet appearance was on December 11 at the 2024 Beauty Inc Awards, just weeks before the legal dispute with Baldoni surfaced.
She and Reynolds presented a united front at the NBC event, which brought together A-list attendees such as Eddie Murphy, Kristen Wiig, Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, Kim Kardashian, Paul McCartney, Cher, and Steven Spielberg.
The couple’s presence at SNL50 marked Lively’s highly anticipated return to the public eye amid her intense legal drama with her It Ends With Us director and co-star, Justin Baldoni.
Reports of a feud between them threatened to overshadow the release last summer.
Then, in December Lively sued him for alleged sexual harassment, including claims that he would ask probing questions about her sex life, would invite his friends into nude scenes with Lively, and would make jokes about Lively’s dead father.
Shortly after Lively filed her lawsuit, The New York Times published an article based on Lively’s claims alleging that Baldoni orchestrated a smear campaign against her and amplifying the harassment allegations.
In response, Baldoni filed a defamation lawsuit against the New York Times and launched a lawsuit against Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds, accusing them of leveraging their celebrity status to take control of his film and damage his career.
Since then, there has been no end to the twists and turns of the legal case which has gripped imaginations and headlines around the world, including Baldoni launching how own website to tell his side of events.
