Ryan Reynolds Under Fire For 'Buying' His Way Onto TIME Cover: 'Barf'

Ryan Reynolds is once again making headlines, but this time, it’s not for his next big blockbuster or buzzy business deal.

The "Deadpool" star's recent TIME cover has ignited a firestorm online, with fans mocking the feature and accusing Reynolds of “buying” his way onto the prestigious publication amid ongoing legal drama involving his wife, Blake Lively, and actor Justin Baldoni.

The 48-year-old actor was the focus of a feature titled “How Ryan Reynolds Rewrote the Script for Celebrity Entrepreneurs”, highlighting his impressive business ventures, including his production and marketing firm Maximum Effort, which recently earned a spot on TIME100's Most Influential Companies list.

However, it was the timing of Ryan Reynolds' feature on the cover that dominated social media.

Instead of a traditional portrait, Reynolds is pictured from behind, showing only the back of his head.

He later explained the decision, writing, “I insisted they take this photo for soooo many reasons but the chief one is @MaximumEffort is not me. It’s a tiny little pirate ship helmed by the most talented, tireless, and creative team of people on planet earth.”

Fans weren’t buying it.

Many are questioning the timing of the feature, especially as Reynolds and Lively remain embroiled in an ugly legal war with Baldoni.

“Everything he’s been exposed for, and this is the headline? Come on,” one commenter posted. Another added, “That cash envelope from Reynolds must have been HUUGE.”

"How Ryan Reynolds paid us to put him on the cover of this magazine! Lol," one critic wrote on social media. Another slammed the cover as tone-deaf, posting, “Very barf. $$$$$.”

Others accused the Hollywood power couple of using the press to sway public perception. “These two keep on buying themselves good publicity, it's so exhausting and sickening,” one person wrote.

Despite the backlash from fans, many celebrities and sports icons chimed in to praise and support Reynolds.

Retired NFL quarterback Drew Brees wrote, "Absolutely well deserved!"

Bart Johnson, actor and Blake Lively's brother-in-law, commented, "Wow what an accomplishment!! CONGRATS!"

Film producer Maud Arnold said, "Congratulations!!"

The wide-ranging interview did offer a glimpse into Reynolds’ home life with Lively and their four children.

He credited his family as his grounding force, saying, “My value comes from having four kids and a good marriage. My self-worth isn’t farmed out to any one thing that isn’t under the roof of my home.”

In a candid moment, Lively even popped into the interview in “leggings and an oversized shirt” searching for her favorite snack, sour dried blueberries that “taste like warheads.” She jokingly scolded Reynolds for helping her rummage, telling him it was “chewing into your time” before syncing schedules for “10 minutes of catch-up time.”

While the couple avoided commenting directly on their ongoing legal battle with Baldoni, Reynolds appeared unfazed by the surrounding media storm.

“I can read something that says, ‘He should be drawn and quartered.’ I could read something that says I should win a Nobel Prize. Both are meaningless,” he said. “None of us are comprised of our best moments. None of us are defined by our worst moments. We are something in the middle.”

The controversy dates back to December 2024 when Lively accused "It Ends with Us" co-star Baldoni of sexual harassment, allegations he denies. The fallout sparked a defamation suit from Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios against Lively, her publicist Leslie Sloane, and Reynolds. Baldoni later escalated matters with a $250 million suit against The New York Times over their exposé detailing Lively’s claims.

Earlier this month, a judge dismissed Baldoni’s defamation case, a major blow to the actor’s legal team. However, his lawyers are still gaining access to Lively’s private text messages with Taylor Swift, who Blake referred to as “my dragon” in messages allegedly meant to intimidate Baldoni. The original subpoena for Swift’s direct communications was later withdrawn.

In the midst of lawsuits, public scrutiny, and viral backlash, Reynolds may have hoped his TIME cover would spotlight his business acumen. Instead, it’s only added more fuel to the fire, and fans are making sure the internet remembers it.