Did Ryan Reynolds Subtly Reference Justin Baldoni With the Nicepool Character in ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’?
Online rumours are circulating over whether Ryan Reynolds made subtle allusions to Justin Baldoni in ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’. Baldoni has countersued The New York Times and intends to sue Lively and others in the wake of Blake Lively’s complaint, which accused Baldoni of sexual harassment on the set of ‘It Ends with Us’ and of a subsequent smear campaign.
Reynolds ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ persona “Nicepool,” who has drawn a resemblance to Baldoni, is being revisited by fans. Nicepool jokes in a deleted scene, “I’d be fighting alongside you, but my calling is to one day start a podcast that monetizes the women’s movement.” This statement is interpreted as a swipe at Baldoni, co-host of the podcast ‘The Man Enough’, which explores relationships and masculinity.
Following Lively’s lawsuit, in which his co-host Jamey Heath was included as a defendant, Baldoni’s podcast came under fire.
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Reynolds, who co-wrote ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’, is given credit for playing Nicepool under a pseudonym. Other scenes in the movie are brought up by fans, such as Nicepool’s remarks on Lively’s character Ladypool, such as “She just had a baby, too—you can’t even tell,” to which Deadpool responds.
According to Lively’s complaint, Baldoni made disparaging remarks about her weight after giving birth and uninvitedly entered her trailer, among other acts that produced a hostile work environment. At a meeting in January 2024, Reynolds allegedly confronted Baldoni and demanded an apology, which Baldoni declined. Accusing Reynolds of berating him during the meeting, Baldoni has sued The Times for $250 million and disputes the accusations.
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As the court battles intensify, Baldoni’s team vows to release texts to refute Lively’s claims, while Lively’s attorneys maintain that her claims are backed by evidence. ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’, meanwhile, keeps creating excitement with its ostensibly scathing satire encased in superhero fun.
–Farheen Ali
