Ryan Reynolds out of touch has become a topic of widespread discussion following several controversial moments involving Reynolds and his wife, Blake Lively. These incidents span from insensitive social media posts to tone-deaf public statements, occurring primarily throughout 2024 and 2025 across locations such as New York City and South Carolina, casting a spotlight on the couple’s perceived disconnect from public sentiment amid ongoing legal and social challenges.
PR Missteps During Blake Lively’s Legal Battle
The legal dispute between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, director and co-star on the film It Ends with Us, has drawn sharp public scrutiny. Lively’s accusations of sexual harassment sparked heated debate, while Baldoni’s public relations efforts gained some support. Amid this intense media storm, Reynolds and Lively made a critical error in their public communications in February 2025. When People reported Baldoni’s emotional and financial difficulties related to the lawsuit, the couple posted a cheerful selfie from New York City that many viewed as insensitive.
Amy Prenner, founder of The Prenner Group, criticized this approach.
“When you’re in the middle of a tough news cycle, every post matters. Even something as simple as a selfie can be read a dozen different ways,”
she explained. Prenner advised a more cautious strategy:
“It’s important to think about timing and tone, and sometimes the smartest move is to pause, let things breathe, and come back with a more thoughtful approach,”
noting that their apparent disregard for the situation only heightened public backlash.
Luxury Mahjong Sets Spark Social Media Backlash
Blake Lively’s fondness for mahjong led her to gift extravagant sets worth over $400 to close friends during Christmas 2025. These items, made by a company called Oh My Mahjong and priced between $400 and $500 per set, drew criticism on social media. Beyond the steep price, critics took issue with the fact that the company was founded by a non-Chinese woman profiting from a culturally significant game.
Lively admitted to Vogue that her friends’ enthusiasm prompted her gifts:
“I always end up gifting them my own set because they are obsessed and want to practice,”
she shared. However, the response was largely negative, with a Reddit user condemning the product:
“This is such a cringey company started by a white woman selling $400 mahjong sets? And sorry but having your joker tiles depicting men wearing traditional triangle straw hats is not cool,”
articulating concerns about cultural insensitivity.
Amy Prenner emphasized that the issue was not the hobby itself but how it was presented.
“Authenticity and self-awareness go a long way,”
she said, recommending a focus on the joy of playing rather than the luxury price tag.
“It helps to focus less on the price and more on the intention or joy it brings. That’s what people connect to — the emotion behind the story, not the luxury itself,”
Prenner added.
Ryan Reynolds’ Comments on Blake Lively’s Upbringing Draw Criticism
In December 2024, Ryan Reynolds faced backlash after describing Blake Lively’s childhood as “working class” during a conversation with The Hollywood Reporter about protecting their children’s online privacy. This characterization conflicted with public knowledge of Lively’s Hollywood roots—her father, an actor and director, and her mother, a talent scout, ensured she was immersed in the entertainment industry from the start.
Blake’s early acting debut at age 10 in the 1998 film Sandman and the family’s industry connections contrasted sharply with Reynolds’ depiction. A Reddit user remarked on this disparity:
“Ryan himself probably was lower on the socioeconomic ladder (I don’t know about working class, but sure, around that level I can see it), but for him to say his wife was in the same strata… he’s not doing her any favours,”
highlighting the inaccuracy of Reynolds’ claim.
Others referenced Blake’s association with established Hollywood figures early in life.
“Didn’t her sister date Jason [Priestley]? There’s a picture of him holding a baby Blake. They were far from regular people. This is just laughable,”
noted another Redditor, pointing to Blake’s upbringing as anything but ordinary.
Tone-Deaf Promotion of ‘It Ends with Us’
Blake Lively’s promotion of the 2024 film It Ends with Us, which depicts themes of domestic violence and emotional abuse, was widely criticized for its lighthearted approach. Lively showcased floral outfits and cheerful imagery linked to her character, a florist, both on social media and in interviews, seemingly downplaying the movie’s serious content.
She encouraged viewers, saying,
“’It Ends with Us’ is in theaters now, so grab your friends, wear your florals, and head out to see it,”
in a promotional video. Social media users were quick to rebuke this tone, with one Instagram user lamenting,
“I knew nothing about this movie so assumed it was a romcom. Girl!!! How tone deaf are you!!! Lmao. Wear. Your. florals????? Pathetic,”
underscoring the disconnect.
Lively downplayed the film’s gravity in interviews, describing it instead as
“a big, beautiful summer movie,”
which led to accusations of disrespect toward survivors of domestic violence who felt the marketing masked the profound trauma depicted in the film. An X user shared a personal account:
“I saw a few promos for ‘IEWU’ and my husband and I went to see it — I have DV in my past and it was horrible and uncomfortable sitting with my husband watching it — we were trying to find an easy romcom for my bday,”
revealing the emotional toll on some viewers.
Blake Lively’s Inappropriate Response on Domestic Violence Questions
During an August 2024 appearance on Jake’s Takes, questions about the film’s exploration of domestic violence led to a controversial moment. Host Jake Hamilton asked how people with similar experiences might approach Lively in public, to which she responded sarcastically:
“Like, asking for my address, or my phone number, or, like, location share? I could just location share you. … I’m a Virgo, so like, are we talking logistics, are we talking emotionally?”
This joke was seen as trivializing a serious subject.
Though Lively later gave a more earnest answer, the initial tone drew sharp criticism for insensitivity. One Reddit user explained:
“I completely get not wanting the entire focus of her character to be about DV, because she’s more than just a victim. But at the same time, I can’t believe she has this kind of attitude when asked about something that’s so serious,”
articulating the discomfort this generated. Observers also noted that co-star Brandon Sklenar appeared visibly unsettled during the exchange.
“Once he realizes [what she’s saying], he looks disgusted but not surprised,”
commented a social media user.
Controversy Surrounding Their Plantation Wedding Venue
The couple’s choice of wedding location further added to perceptions of being out of touch. In September 2012, Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds married at Boone Hall Plantation in South Carolina, a site with a troubling history linked to slavery. The couple kept their ceremony secretive, but the venue choice triggered some criticism from media and the public at the time.
The backlash intensified years later, especially after Reynolds publicly supported the film Black Panther. Social media users called out a seeming contradiction:
“You don’t think it’s even a little f***ed up to be all ‘Wakanda forever’ when you literally got married standing on dust from the bones of murdered slaves?”
one X user wrote, highlighting the insensitivity seen in their wedding choice.
Reynolds addressed the criticism in a 2020 interview with Fast Company, admitting their oversight:
“What we saw at the time was a wedding venue on Pinterest. What we saw after was a place built upon devastating tragedy,”
he said. Lively expressed remorse for the decision during her ongoing legal deposition in 2026.
“It’s a mistake we have publicly acknowledged and done a lot of work to reconcile for ourselves and others,”
she stated, signaling efforts to make amends.
Overall Impact of Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively’s Out-of-Touch Moments
Throughout multiple incidents spanning legal battles, promotions, personal statements, and public appearances, Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively have repeatedly found themselves accused of a disconnect from audiences and sensitive issues. Their missteps — from lighthearted social media posts during intense legal disputes to inappropriate comments about serious social topics — have fueled criticism and damaged public perception.
These moments highlight the challenges celebrities face balancing personal expression with public scrutiny, especially when addressing difficult themes or controversies. For Reynolds and Lively, the ongoing backlash suggests a significant need to align their public communications more thoughtfully with the contexts that surround their actions.
As the couple continues navigating legal and media challenges, their next steps in managing their narrative and public image will likely be closely watched by both supporters and detractors. Maintaining awareness of timing, tone, and cultural sensitivity may be essential if they hope to rebuild credibility amid their complicated public standing.
I didn’t read the book and it wasn’t on my radar but I saw a few promos for IEWU and my husband and I went to see it- I have DV in my past and it was horrible and uncomfortable sitting with my husband watching it- we were trying to find a easy romcom for my bday..😞
— meghanomical (@meghanomical) April 16, 2025
You don’t think it’s even a little fucked up to be all “Wakanda forever” when you literally got married standing on dust from the bones of murdered slaves?
— Sick Sad World (@YesYoureRacist) February 18, 2018
