Justin Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, has claimed that Ryan Reynolds’ character, Nicepool, in the movie Deadpool & Wolverine, is intentionally making fun of Baldoni. This assertion came up during an interview on The Megyn Kelly Show, where Freedman argued that Nicepool’s hairstyle and attitude are clear references to Baldoni. He suggested that this character reflects ongoing legal issues between Baldoni and Blake Lively.
Freedman pointed out that Nicepool’s cheerful appearance hides potentially inappropriate behavior, which he believes is not a suitable reaction to sexual harassment allegations. He specifically referenced Nicepool’s remarks about Lively’s appearance after childbirth as support for his claim.
Related: Fans Need Manhwa Adaptation After Squid Game Salesman Art Goes Viral
The dispute started after Lively sued Baldoni, accusing him of sexual harassment and retaliation related to their work on the film It Ends With Us. Following these claims, Baldoni’s agency, WME, ended their contract with him. Baldoni then filed a lawsuit against The New York Times, claiming that the publication misused edited texts in their coverage of the situation.
These legal issues began after It Ends With Us was released in August 2024, a time when Lively faced criticism online regarding her marketing tactics, and there was speculation about conflicts between the two actors. Baldoni hired a crisis public relations team, and Lively filed a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department.
Adding to the speculation about Reynolds’ intentions, some users on social media have pointed out similarities between Nicepool and Baldoni, particularly a deleted scene from Deadpool & Wolverine. In that scene, Nicepool talks about wanting to create a podcast that profits from the women’s movement, which some see as connected to Baldoni’s own podcast, The Man Enough. This podcast, co-hosted by Jamey Heath and formerly by Liz Plank, has recently seen changes in its lineup.
Freedman said, “What I make of that, is that if your wife is sexually harassed, you don’t make fun of Justin Baldoni. Theres no question it relates to Justin. I mean, anybody that watched that hair bun — if somebody is seriously sexually harassed, you don’t make fun of it. It’s a serious issue.”
It’s hard to side with Justin with the messages out in the public. Claiming the New York Times edited messages is a bit of a stretch.
The issues surrounding Nicepool escalate the conflict between Lively and Baldoni. The link between the Marvel film and the legal battles remains a key point of disagreement. The accusations against Reynolds and the idea that Nicepool is based on Baldoni add more complexity to this legal saga. Both It Ends With Us and Deadpool & Wolverine are available for streaming on Netflix and Disney+, respectively.
Source: Deadline
