Justin Baldoni’s lawyer claims that one Deadpool & Wolverine character was created to mock the star as It Ends With Us legal battles between lead stars Blake Lively and Baldoni continue. In late December, Lively formally launched a lawsuit against Baldoni and others for sexual harassment and orchestrating a smear campaign aimed at destroying her reputation. Meanwhile, Baldoni and his legal team are suing The New York Times for defamation. Lively starred as Ladypool in her husband, Ryan Reynolds’ Marvel feature.

Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freeman, appeared on Megyn Kelly’s show to discuss the legal battle, in which he addressed the rumor about Reynolds’ Nicepool being used to mock the star. Freeman claimed that the “hair bun” and “the comment about the pregnancy” are obvious references to Baldoni and that there’s “no question it relates to Justin.” He also argued that sexual harassment is a serious allegation, and Reynolds’ alleged mockery of Baldoni in the Marvel movie counters the seriousness of Lively’s claim. Check out what he said below:

What I make of that is that if your wife is sexually harassed, you don’t make fun of Justin Baldoni. You don’t make fun of the situation. You take it very seriously, you file HR complaints, you raise the issue and you follow a legal process. What you don’t do is mock the person and turn it into a joke, but again, if somebody is seriously sexually harassed, you don’t make fun of it. It’s a serious issue.

What Freeman’s Comment Means For Deadpool & Wolverine

Baldoni’s Legal Team Will Likely Include Ryan Reynolds In Their Lawsuit Against Blake Lively

Deadpool & Wolverine‘s deleted scenes further fueled viewers’ suspicions about Nicepool taking a dig at Baldoni. In a deleted scene, Reynold’s character says, “I’d be fighting alongside you, but my calling is to one day start a podcast that monetizes the women’s movement.” Many believe this is a reference to Baldoni’s podcast, The Man Enough, where he explores “how the messages of masculinity show up in relationships, body image, privilege, fatherhood, sex, success, mental health and so much more” with co-host Jamey Heath and Liz Plank, who has recently announced her departure from the series.

During Deadpool and Wolverine’s first encounter with the variant, Nicepool comments on Ladypool’s body and weight, praising that “you can’t even tell” that “she just had a baby.” Deadpool points out how inappropriate the comment is, to which Nicepool brushes it off, claiming that he “identify as a feminist.” Below is their exchange in the film:

Nicepool: Oh my goodness, wait until you see Ladypool. She’s gorgeous. She just had a baby, too — you can’t even tell.

Deadpool: I don’t think you’re supposed to stay that.

Nicepool: That’s okay. I identify as a feminist.

In Lively’s complaint against It Ends With Us co-star, she claimed that Baldoni “routinely degraded” her on set and criticized “her body and weight,” including a phone call to her trainer to inquire about her weight. Baldoni claimed that Reynolds “demanded” an apology for “fat-shaming” Lively and became “further enraged” when he refused. Freeman’s response further points out the similarities between Nicepool and Baldoni. On Megyn Kelly’s show, the attorney also shared that they plan to include Reynolds in the planned lawsuit against Lively.

Our Take On Nicepool’s Treatment In Deadpool & Wolverine

He’s More Ryan Reynolds Than Justin Baldoni

As someone who wasn’t up-to-date with It Ends With Us‘ behind-the-scenes scandals by the time Deadpool & Wolverine was released, the Nicepool scene struck me as odd. With more information coming to light, it does explain what the Nicepool scene might be about, especially with Deadpool’s obvious reference to Lively, who played the female variant and had given birth to her fourth child in February 2023. Filming for Deadpool & Wolverine took place in May 2023, around the same time It Ends With Us went into production. Reynolds hasn’t responded to the rumor yet, but the Nicepool line could be an inner joke between Reynolds and Lively, given that they are partners in real life.

It’s a common practice for comedic bits to take a lighthearted approach to serious situations, including divorce, substance abuse, and scandals. Given the comedic nature of Reynolds’ character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it’s not a surprise that he took inspiration from real-life situations to create lines, and it’s certainly not a crime. Not to mention, Nicepool is a very likable character in the film. He also seems more like a manifestation of Reynolds’ admiration for his wife than Baldoni. It’s possible that the joke didn’t come from the situation between Baldoni and Lively.