Ryan Reynolds sparked criticism from fans following an email he sent to Colleen Hoover, author of It Ends With Us, which many described as ‘cringe’. The email, written just one day after the film’s August 10, 2024 premiere, was revealed among newly unsealed legal documents related to a dispute involving Reynolds’s wife, Blake Lively, and the movie’s director and co-star, Justin Baldoni. Fans questioned Reynolds’s close involvement in the film, which was adapted from Hoover’s best-selling novel, and reacted negatively to the tone and content of his message.
Details of Reynolds’s Email and His Comments on the Film and Its Director
According to the documents obtained by the Daily Mail, Reynolds sent a lengthy email celebrating the success of It Ends With Us, calling it a “complete f*****g WIN.” In the message, Reynolds praised Hoover and Lively’s effort in bringing the film to life, stating,
“You guys really pulled it off. Like … Colleen… this thing is on fire everywhere. And audiences have wrapped both arms around the film.”
He acknowledged the challenges faced during production and expressed pride in the team’s achievements.
However, Reynolds also took a jab at Justin Baldoni, the film’s director who has been embroiled in legal conflict with Lively. He referred to Baldoni as a “dumb-dumb” and mocked him in the email and other communications. One line sarcastically noted,
“I heard you guys got a tummy bug and you’re stuck in NY. I can’t think of anything worse. Although it might be your body ridding itself of any residual Baldoni.”
He criticized Baldoni’s leadership by saying,
“I’d rather be puking in a gulag than hijacking performative feminism while practicing personal growth catchphrases in the mirror.”
Reactions from Fans Highlight Discomfort with Reynolds’s Tone and Involvement
Fans responded with confusion and amusement over Reynolds’s vocal public support and long-winded email, many branding it as ‘egotistical’ and ‘cringe’. Some users mocked the verbosity and style of both Reynolds and Lively’s written communications, noting how unnecessarily lengthy their messages tend to be. One commenter quipped,
“All of a sudden I appreciate my husband’s one-word text responses.”
Another stated,
“Why do they write like this my god everything I’ve seen from him and Blake is about 5x times longer than it needs to be. Do they have a word of the day app they’re using?”
Others took the opportunity to critique Reynolds’s involvement entirely. One fan questioned,
“Why is he involved at all? Ew,”
while another joked,
“I now have a tummy bug after reading that.”
Another stated,
“A real man would have just said great job, proud of you guys—let’s celebrate. All of this for a movie that should have been straight to video.”
Further Revelations from Unsealed Correspondence Reveal Tensions on Set
Beyond the email to Hoover, additional unsealed text messages from Reynolds to his agent Warren Zavala reveal deeper conflict with Baldoni and others involved in the film’s production. Reynolds repeatedly expressed frustration with how Baldoni and his associates handled the public narrative amid rumors of tension on set. He called Baldoni and his team “buckets of dumb-dumb-juice” and insisted they should have publicly addressed the speculation sooner, urging them to take “full throated, unqualified” responsibility.
Reynolds also criticized Baldoni’s relationship with the cast and crew, claiming,
“Every cast member and key crew member (including Colleen) won’t be in the same room as the guy.”
He added that many had unfollowed Baldoni on social media over the previous six months, and no one had mentioned Baldoni’s name in interviews.
Ryan Reynolds’s Strategy to Protect Blake Lively Amid Legal Battle
In these messages, Reynolds detailed strategies to shield Blake Lively from negative publicity, warning against allowing her to be painted as a controlling figure amid reports of discord. He emphasized that Lively should not bear the burden of cleaning up “this sloppy, cliched f***storm,” attributing the film’s success largely to her tireless work despite production difficulties.
He praised Lively’s dedication, saying,
“She made this a win for Sony and by proxy, Wayfarer.”
Reynolds described how Lively
“f***ing refused to give up on the film,”
often missing time with her children while working long hours in editing rooms to ensure quality.
Hypothetical Apology Letter from Baldoni Crafted by Reynolds
Showing his rhetorical skills, Reynolds drafted a parody letter he believed Baldoni and producer Jamey Heath should have issued to address early controversies. The mock statement read,
“Our behavior on the set of IEWU was abhorrent and not even close to standards and respect both Colleen Hoover and Blake Lively deserve. To say nothing of the entire cast and crew who bravely pushed their way through an unnecessarily challenging shoot.”
The letter continued by acknowledging an effort
“to better understand how we fostered a workplace environment so lacking boundaries, guardrails, respect and in many incidents, decency.”
Reynolds concluded that true accountability must go beyond “performative virtue signaling,” asserting that the movie’s success was realized despite the production team’s internal conflict.
Legal Dispute Between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni Continues
The revelations come amid ongoing litigation between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, which has been contentious since Lively filed suit in December 2024. She has accused Baldoni of sexual harassment, retaliation, and intentional emotional distress, including claims of body shaming and efforts to damage her reputation. The lawsuit names several collaborators linked to Baldoni, including his company Wayfarer Studios, its CEO, financial backers, and PR personnel.
Baldoni has denied all allegations and previously sought $250 million in damages from The New York Times over a report he called defamatory, later increasing the claim to $400 million in a 2025 lawsuit that also named Lively, Reynolds, and their publicist Leslie Sloane. That case was dismissed in June 2025. Both parties continue to deny wrongdoing as the trial is set for March 2026.
Significance of the Dispute and Public Perception of Reynolds’s Role
This legal conflict highlights the complex tensions behind the scenes of It Ends With Us, a film hailed for its emotional depth but shadowed by controversy. Reynolds’s outspoken support for Lively and vocal criticism of Baldoni have attracted public attention, although his lengthy, sarcastic email has been met with skepticism and ridicule by some fans. The ongoing battle between the principal parties threatens to impact reputations and may affect future projects involving those connected to the film.
As the trial approaches, the entertainment industry and audiences alike await further developments, recognizing the stakes involved for all individuals and companies entangled in this high-profile dispute.
