Ryan Reynolds made headlines during the SNL50 special when he made a scripted joke about his wife, Blake Lively, and her ongoing legal drama with director-star Justin Baldoni. The joke, which was part of a three-hour special celebrating Saturday Night Live‘s five decades on the air, drew significant attention and sparked a debate about the boundaries of comedy in the context of serious legal issues.

During the special, SNL alums Tina Fey and Amy Poehler called on Reynolds, who was sitting next to Lively. After Poehler asked him how things were going, Reynolds replied, “Great! Why? What have you heard?” with a worried look. This light-hearted exchange, however, was just the tip of the iceberg in a much larger controversy.

On Tuesday’s Fifi, Fev and Nick podcast episode, longtime SNL cue card holder Wally Feresten, who has worked at the sketch comedy series for 35 years, shared his insights on the joke from Sunday’s star-studded TV event. According to Feresten, Reynolds had a different line in rehearsal and pitched the joke about Lively’s legal drama to replace it.

“He had a different line in rehearsal, and he pitched that to replace it. So, that was his idea to do it,” Feresten claimed about Reynolds.

Feresten continued, “We wouldn’t want to do anything too controversial unless they were in on it.” This statement, however, was met with skepticism from an SNL spokesperson, who denied Feresten’s claim. The spokesperson emphasized that Feresten is not a credited writer on the series and isn’t part of the creative process.

A source close to Reynolds told THR the opening joke was pitched by SNL and never changed, and that the follow-up joke was rewritten in rehearsal.

Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, went on Billy Bush’s Hot Mics podcast earlier this week and shared his thoughts on the bit. “I’m unaware of anybody, frankly, whose wife has been sexually harassed and has made jokes about that type of situation. I can’t think of anyone who’s done anything like that,” Freedman said. “It surprised me.”

“I’m unaware of anybody, frankly, whose wife has been sexually harassed and has made jokes about that type of situation. I can’t think of anyone who’s done anything like that,” Freedman said.

In December, Lively sued Baldoni for sexual harassment and facilitating a smear campaign against her. Baldoni then filed a $400 million lawsuit against the couple, accusing them of forming a smear campaign against him in an attempt to extort and defame him. This legal back-and-forth has added layers of complexity to the situation, making it a high-profile case in the entertainment industry.

Earlier this week, Lively filed an amended complaint in which she alleges that two actresses made to feel uncomfortable by Baldoni are ready to testify. This development could significantly impact the ongoing legal battle and has sparked discussions about the broader implications of sexual harassment allegations in Hollywood.

This controversy highlights the delicate balance between comedy and sensitivity, especially when dealing with serious legal issues. The incident has raised questions about the role of humor in addressing sensitive topics and the potential consequences of making light of serious matters. As the legal drama unfolds, it remains to be seen how this will affect the public’s perception of the involved parties and the entertainment industry as a whole.

For many, this situation serves as a reminder of the importance of handling sensitive topics with care, both in public and private settings. It also underscores the need for a more nuanced understanding of the impact of words and actions, especially in the age of social media and instant communication.

As the legal battle between Lively and Baldoni continues, the entertainment industry will be watching closely. The outcome of this case could set a precedent for how similar disputes are handled in the future, influencing the way celebrities and their representatives navigate public controversies.