Ryan Reynolds Makes Rare Public Appearance To Support Hugh Jackman Amid Blake Lively Legal Drama

Ryan Reynolds made an unexpected appearance at Radio City Music Hall on Friday night to honor his longtime friend and Marvel co-star, Hugh Jackman. The occasion? The opening night of Jackman’s one-man show, "From New York, With Love."

While Reynolds brought his trademark humor and heartfelt admiration to the event, the evening was set against the backdrop of escalating legal tensions involving Ryan Reynolds’ wife, Blake Lively, and actor Justin Baldoni.

Jackman’s show, "From New York, With Love," featured songs from his celebrated career, including numbers from "The Boy From Oz," "Les Misérables," "The Greatest Showman," and "The Music Man." It marked Jackman’s first new concert performance in five years, making it an emotional milestone.

The 56-year-old actor was visibly moved as he addressed the packed audience. “I hosted the Tonys here 22 years ago, and my dream was to perform here,” Jackman said, his voice breaking. “Thank you for being here.”

Adding to the night’s surprises, Reynolds joined the audience for an impromptu “Hugh & A” session. True to form, he kicked things off with humor.  “I was told this was going to be a comedy version of Les Mis as a one-man show. We all said it was a terrible idea, but he carried on. I see he’s duped me once again!”

The jokes gave way to a heartfelt tribute as Reynolds reflected on his first experience working with Jackman during the filming of "X-Men Origins: Wolverine."

“This was the first major movie star I ever worked with, 16 or 17 years ago,” Reynolds recalled. “What I saw was just about the best thing anyone could experience if you’re working your way up in the industry.”

Reynolds praised Jackman’s kindness and professionalism, calling him “a capital M movie star” who treated every crew member with respect. “I love this man, I care about this man. He is genuinely the best human being I know,” Reynolds said, before jokingly adding, “And I have four children!”

Jackman responded with equal warmth, teasing Reynolds about being his “fifth best friend” and thanking him for coming—even if he asked for a free ticket.

Despite the celebratory tone of the evening, the ongoing legal battle between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni was undoubtedly on the minds of many.

The feud, which began with Lively suing Baldoni, has since spiraled into a $400 million countersuit involving Reynolds. Baldoni has alleged that Reynolds mocked him with the “Nicepool” character in "Deadpool & Wolverine" and claimed both Reynolds and Taylor Swift pressured him to accept Lively’s script revisions.

Most recently, Baldoni’s legal team released behind-the-scenes footage to counter Lively’s claims of harassment, a move her team argued only highlighted inappropriate behavior on the "It End With Us" set.

Amid the drama, Reynolds and Jackman’s friendship took center stage. The night was a reminder of their enduring bond, with Reynolds calling Jackman his “gotcha for life.”

As the audience applauded, it was clear that the evening belonged to Jackman, with a little help from his cheeky, supportive best friend.

Reynolds' rare public appearance comes just days after an unedited clip from the set of "It Ends with Us" surfaced and went viral, as it offered audio and context that seemingly challenged Blake Lively’s sexual harassment allegations against co-star and director Justin Baldoni.

The footage brings new insights into the ongoing legal battle, which includes Lively’s claims that Baldoni acted inappropriately during the filming of a romantic dance scene. In her complaint, Lively alleged that Baldoni dragged his lips down her neck during the scene and whispered, “It smells so good,” asserting that the remark went unnoticed by others as the microphones were off for the silent scene.

Around the seven-minute mark of the new clip, Baldoni is heard asking, “Am I getting beard on you?” to which Lively laughs and replies, “I’m probably getting spray tan on you.” Baldoni then responds, “It smells good,” prompting both actors to laugh as Lively explains the scent is from her body makeup.

The conflict between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni continues to unfold.