Did Ryan Reynolds Reference Justin Baldoni with His Nicepool Character inDeadpool & Wolverine?

Mar. 15, 2025

Ryan Reynolds, Deadpool & Wolverine’s Nicepool and Justin Baldoni.Photo:Gilbert Flores/Variety/Getty;Disney/Marvel; Araya Doheny/Variety/Getty

Gilbert Flores/Variety/Getty;Disney/Marvel; Araya Doheny/Variety/Getty

The internet wants to know: didRyan Reynoldsadd thinly-veiled jabs atJustin BaldoniintoDeadpool & Wolverine?

“I mean, come on guys. That’s not even subtle,” saidTikTok user americastiaon Monday, Jan. 6, sharing what appears to be aDeadpool & Wolverinedeleted scene in which Reynolds' character says: “I’d be fighting alongside you, but my calling is to one day start a podcast that monetizes the women’s movement.”

The clip is one of anumber of social media poststhat note perceived similarities between Nicepool and Baldoni, 40.

Baldoni co-hosts the podcastThe Man Enoughwith his producing partner Jamey Heath, who is also named in thesexual harassment complaint Lively filed on Dec. 20, along with a formal lawsuit filed in New York on Dec. 31. Liz Plank, the podcast’s third co-host, announced on Dec. 23 that she wasleaving the series, which explores “how the messages of masculinity show up in relationships, body image, privilege, fatherhood, sex, success, mental health and so much more,” according to the show’s website.

A rep for Reynolds did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment Jan. 7.

Nicepool, Wolverine and Deadpool in Deadpool & Wolverine.Disney/Marvel

Disney/Marvel

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Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds and Justin Baldoni.Taylor Hill/WireImage; John Nacion/Variety via Getty

Taylor Hill/WireImage; John Nacion/Variety via Getty

Reynolds wasfirst seen wearing the Nicepool costumeonDeadpool & Wolverine’s set on Jan. 21, 2024. The actor is credited as “Gordon Reynolds” — a fake twin brother of Deadpool’s he created for a2016GQinterview— for portraying Nicepool in the movie.

Ryan Reynolds as Nicepool in Deadpool & Wolverine.Disney/Marvel

In his lawsuit against theTimes, Baldoni alleged that Reynolds “aggressively berated” himduring that January 2024 meeting regardingIt Ends with Usat Lively and Reynold’s New York City apartment. Baldoni claimed that Reynolds “demanded” an apology for Lively, accusing him of “fat-shaming” her, and when Baldoni “resisted apologizing for what he had not done, Reynolds became further enraged.”

“This is not a ‘feud’ arising from ‘creative differences’ or a ‘he said/she said’ situation,” her lawyers' statement to PEOPLE read.

source: people.com