During this engaging session, the Deadpool actor, alongside his spouse, Blake Lively, made a light-hearted reference to her contentious legal battle with director and co-star Justin Baldoni of It Ends With Us. This moment certainly caught the audience’s attention, highlighting the intersection of celebrity culture and legal drama, while amplifying public interest in their ongoing saga.

Reactions on social media were swift and varied, with many expressing disapproval of the couple’s bold appearance. However, Real Housewives of New York star Bethenny Frankel praised their presence, dubbing it ?marketing genius? from both sides, showing how polarized opinions can be in the realm of celebrity engagement.

?SNL made a brilliant move by featuring them last night,? Frankel remarked in a video shared on her Instagram. ?They represent the epicenter of contemporary popular culture, which is exactly what makes them relevant and newsworthy.? Her endorsement underscores the potential impact of celebrity appearances, especially in light of ongoing controversies.

?They frequently invite controversial figures. They discuss disruptive topics, and they may even feature political candidates,? Frankel continued. The history of SNL includes hosting polarizing personalities like Donald Trump and Elon Musk, which adds another layer of complexity to their guest choices.

Regarding the couple at the center of this high-profile scandal, Frankel commented, ?Whether or not you support them, it was a clever move for Blake and Ryan to make an appearance.? This sentiment reflects the intricate dynamics of celebrity branding and public perception.

In fact, she termed their appearance as ?smart marketing,? emphasizing that ?not everyone is immersed in social media platforms like TikTok, sifting through every legal document you are familiar with.? This highlights the disconnect between online discourse and broader public awareness.

Frankel’s enthusiastic support for Reynolds and Lively faced a similar wave of criticism as SNL and the couple did immediately after their on-screen appearance during Sunday?s episode. This demonstrates how celebrity actions can polarize public opinion.

?Such marketing might have worked a few years ago, but it just doesn?t resonate now,? commented one of Frankel?s followers, to which Frankel responded, ?Yes, it does and it is.? A different follower countered, ?I completely disagree. It made them appear desperate.?

?I just don?t agree. Going out in public to show your unity as a couple is acceptable, but joking about the drama was inappropriate,? argued another follower. ?Did you see the expressions on the faces of those around them? Hardly anyone was laughing; it was a major misstep.?

Another passionate commenter challenged Frankel, stating, ?You?re the one who?s been telling us that Hollywood is over and we aren?t falling for it anymore; this is a perfect example of that PR nonsense. Nothing is real. It?s disingenuous, and I think we?re all just shocked because we value your opinion so much and you always keep it real, so how could you praise these clowns??

During the live show, Reynolds made a cheeky reference to the ongoing scandal while participating in the audience Q&A session. When Fey and Poehler asked how things were going, he playfully responded, ?Great ? why, what have you heard?? This interaction added an element of levity amidst the surrounding seriousness of the situation.

Clearly aware of the comedic undertone, Fey and Poehler quickly redirected the conversation, assuring him that they hadn?t heard anything and that all was well, while Lively maintained a serious demeanor, seemingly concerned about the implications of the joke.

This comedic moment did not resonate well with the audience, with many online commentators pointing to the expressions of nearby stars like Kevin Costner, Cher, and Anya Taylor Joy, who appeared visibly uncomfortable as the bit unfolded. Their reactions reflected the tension surrounding the couple’s current situation.

On December 31, director Justin Baldoni initiated a $250 million lawsuit against The New York Times regarding its coverage of Blake Lively?s legal complaint, in which she accused him of sexual harassment and alleged that he and others orchestrated a smear campaign against her. In response, Lively filed a federal lawsuit of her own, reaffirming the claims made in her initial complaint, thus escalating the public spectacle surrounding their legal entanglements.

In his lawsuit, Baldoni and his co-plaintiffs, which include publicists Melissa Nathan and Jennifer Abel, accuse the publication of libel, invasion of privacy, promissory fraud, and breach of implied contract, alleging that they ?intentionally? misled readers. The suit also contends that the newspaper relied on Lively?s ?unverified and self-serving narrative,? which they argue is filled with ?blatant falsehoods and egregious misrepresentations,? highlighting the complex nature of the allegations.

In a statement to TMZ, a representative from The New York Times defended their reporting, asserting, ?Our story was meticulously and responsibly reported. It was based on a review of numerous original documents, including the text messages and emails we quote accurately and in full detail in the article. To date, Wayfarer Studios, Mr. Baldoni, and others involved have not pointed to a single error. We included their full statement in response to the allegations in the article as well. We intend to vigorously defend against this lawsuit.?

In a statement to The New York Post, Lively?s legal team addressed Baldoni?s lawsuit, arguing that the claims made do not alter the validity of the accusations in Lively?s California Civil Rights Division complaint, nor her federal complaint, filed earlier that day. This legal back-and-forth underscores the intensity of the ongoing dispute.

?Nothing in this lawsuit changes anything regarding the claims advanced in Ms. Lively?s California Civil Rights Division Complaint, nor her federal complaint, filed earlier today,? the statement elaborated. ?This lawsuit is based on the clearly false premise that Ms. Lively?s administrative complaint against Wayfarer and others was a ruse based on a choice ?not to file a lawsuit against Baldoni, Wayfarer,? and that ?litigation was never her ultimate goal.??

?As demonstrated by the federal complaint filed by Ms. Lively earlier today, the context for the Wayfarer lawsuit is false,? they continued. ?While we will not litigate this matter in the press, we do encourage people to read Ms. Lively?s complaint in its entirety. We look forward to addressing each of Wayfarer?s allegations in court.?

The legal conflict escalated further on January 16 when Baldoni filed a massive defamation lawsuit against Lively, her husband, Ryan Reynolds, and her publicist, Leslie Sloane. In this filing, the plaintiffs seek to ?set the record straight? following Lively?s accusations of sexual harassment against Baldoni and claims that his team orchestrated a ?smear campaign? against her in the media.