Ryan Reynolds calls out ‘perfect’ standards women are held to amid Lively-Baldoni lawsuit

Deadpool star presented best film award to Wicked at National Board of Review Awards gala

Ryan Reynolds spoke about women’s stories being “held to a different set of standards” at the National Board of Review Awards gala as the actor marked his first public appearance since his wife Blake Lively filed a sexual harassment complaint against It Ends With Us director Justin Baldoni.

The Deadpool star, 48, presented the best film award to Wicked, which he praised for its women-focused message. “Wicked is indeed wicked. It dares to centre two powerful women. It examines a nuanced, complex relationship which has resonated with people for over two decades on stage,” Reynolds said.

“Stories about women seem to be held to a different set of standards, and that is to say that they’re often held to the standard women are held to in life. You must be perfect. You must hide your strength. You must shapeshift or placate.”

Praising Universal Pictures and chairman Donna Langley, he added: “But Donna Langley and Universal, they know where and with whom to place their trust, and it paid off in this film.”

Michelle Yeoh, Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Ethan Slater, Jon M Chu and David Nicksay, winners of the Best Film Award for ‘Wicked,’ and Ryan Reynolds pose at The National Board of Review Annual Awards Gala (Getty Images for National Board)

Directed by Jon M Chu, Wicked tells the heartwarming story of two young witches as they navigate their way through university and learn about true friendship.

Later known as the Wicked Witch of The West, Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) is a green-hued extraordinary witch who faces many obstacles because of her differentness and forms a bond with Glinda (Ariana Grande), the opposite of Elphaba in most ways – popular, loved and blonde.

The film features songs from the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical and also stars Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum, Peter Dinklage, Bowen Yang, and Marissa Bode.

Reynolds individually praised each actor in his speech, singling out the “perhaps too perfect” Bailey, who portrays Fiyero in the musical.

“I have one note. I think we can all agree that Jonathan Bailey is objectively perfect, perhaps too perfect. Personally, I would have preferred fewer scenes featuring Mr Bailey,” Reynolds joked.

“Being good is great, but being great is bad. You can’t just go around indiscriminately spraying charisma all over an enraptured audience. It might feel nice in the moment, but it could easily destabilise the entire industry.”

Jonathan Bailey, center, and Ethan Slater, right, in a scene from ‘Wicked’ (Universal Studios)

“I’m not sure you’re aware, but I, too, am a movie actor. Some might even say, in short, the HLMS or Hollywood Leading Man Society simply cannot sustain the standard of performance this time, and it is in our collective best interest that Jonathan Bailey tone it the fuck down. You’re making us look terrible. I cannot work harder than I already work, and plastic surgery frightens me, Johnny. Can I call you Johnny, if you’re here? I don’t give a s***.”

The Green Lantern star went on to describe Erivo as making “the hardest work appear as effortlessness” and described Grande’s “comedic athleticism and charm” as never being “at the cost of emotional stakes”.

If Gene Wilder were alive today, he added, “I think he would be in awe”.

“Cynthia, what you do in this film and in all your work, is a recipe of mischief, humanity and tender grit. You should be given all the Michelin stars, because this is the product of a master chef. When you perform, it feels as if there’s literally nobody else on Earth who could do what it is that you do and what you’re doing in this film is extremely hard, but you make it look like a moment’s thought, because that’s what a movie star does,” he said.

Last month, Lively sued Baldoni for alleged sexual harassment during the production of It Ends With Us, accusing him of orchestrating a smear campaign against her after she complained about on-set misconduct.

Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni in ‘It Ends With Us’ (CTMG)

Details of the complaint were first made public in a New York Times article and Baldoni subsequently sued the newspaper for libel and false-light invasion of privacy.

The public legal battle stemmed from the filming of It Ends With Us, based on a novel by Colleen Hoover. Lively plays Lily Bloom in the film while Baldoni stars as Ryle Kincaid, her abusive partner.

Wicked is available as a premium digital release on a number of platforms including Amazon Prime and Apple TV+.

The second and final instalment, Wicked: For Good, is set to hit cinemas on 21 November 2025.