Ryan Reynolds has faced widespread criticism for his conduct towards a child reporter at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).
People accused the actor of being ‘rude’ and ‘condescending’.
RYAN REYNOLDS AT TIFF
During the red carpet event for the premiere of John Candy: I Like Me, a video clip circulated on social media. It showed Ryan Reynolds making a dismissive joke to a young reporter, telling him to “skip to the question.”
The interaction sparked backlash online, with many accusing Reynolds of being mean, especially since children may not understand such jokes, according to Page Six.
SOCIAL MEDIA REACTS
Social media users expressed their disapproval strongly. One tweeted, “Kids do not understand these types of ‘jokes’ where the person is being rude to them. It’s called being mean.”
Another commented, “Talk about making a nervous kid feel more timid. Jerk!” Critics also linked Ryan Reynolds’ behaviour to that of his wife, Blake Lively.
They suggested both can be “condescending and mean to people they deem ‘beneath them.’”
TIFF CLOSING THE RED CARPET
However, some sources defended Reynolds, explaining that he was not deliberately rude. An insider revealed that staff at TIFF were closing the red carpet and rushing him inside. This limited his time for interviews.
They said Ryan Reynolds willingly stopped to speak to the child reporter, whom he had interacted with at other events. The insider stated, “He was in no way being rude.
There were a lot of other reporters trying to get a question in which is why he bent down to the kid to have him ask the question.”
RYAN REYNOLDS AND BLAKE LIVELY
Ryan Reynolds later adopted a more sensitive tone when answering the child’s question about his favourite Tim Hortons breakfast sandwich.
This controversy arises amid ongoing legal battles involving Blake Lively.
The actress is suing filmmaker Justin Baldoni and his PR team for an alleged smear campaign. The negative comments about Reynolds have been amplified by the public’s attention to this wider feud.
Wilkinson, a local parenting advocate, remarked, “Respect for young interviewers is essential; celebrities must remember their influence, especially on impressionable fans.”
DO YOU BELIEVE RYAN REYNOLDS’ JOKE WAS MISUNDERSTOOD OR INAPPROPRIATE?
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1.
Subscribe to The South African website’s newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.