It’s rare to see real-life Hollywood feuds spill over into blockbuster movies, but when that happens, viewers can’t help but grab some popcorn to watch the drama unfold. Amid the It Ends with Us feud, there were allegations that Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool & Wolverine mocked Justin Baldoni.
The controversy is now tied to an ongoing legal battle, where several accusations have been hurled by both parties. But was Reynolds simply having fun in the movie, or was it some calculated move to demean Baldoni?
Is Ryan Reynolds’ line in Deadpool & Wolverine a dig at Justin Baldoni?
In Deadpool & Wolverine, there’s a scene where Nicepool, who is also played by Ryan Reynolds, approaches Deadpool to fetch his dog. To which Deadpool says, “What’s Café Gratitude doing here?” Before we tie everything together, here’s what an executive said about the time when she actively worked with Baldoni, in an exclusive piece by The Hollywood Reporter with accounts of people who collaborated with him.
In my head I was like, ‘I’m sorry, are we at Café f*cking Gratitude?” Why are you imposing your culture on this meeting that’s being held at our offices? I can’t explain exactly why, but it made me so uncomfortable.
Her words were in the context of Baldoni making professionals share their personal stories of joy before work. For those unaware, Café Gratitude is a chain of restaurants that serves organic, plant-based food and is known for its spiritually infused vibe. While the line in the movie might seem random, netizens were quick to connect the dots.
However, the article was published in February 2025, and the movie was shot long before that. Plus, it doesn’t mention if the executive was involved in the It Ends with Us project. So for the “Café Gratitude” comment to be a mockery of Baldoni, it has to be an inside joke or a taunting name they used for him on the set.
Justin Baldoni’s faith and his clash with Blake Lively
Justin Baldoni is devoted to the Baha’i faith, which influences the way he approaches work. His faith is based on the principles of communal harmony, unity, and equality. However, when he incorporates these values into the set, it can sometimes create a polarizing environment. The same source also interviewed an individual who worked with Baldoni on Five Feet Apart, and they had a positive impression of him.
I’ve never worked with a male director who was so worried about everyone’s emotional and mental well-being. There was an openness and emotionality to his style that was more typical of a woman, and it probably wouldn’t be an issue if it was a [female director] because of the preconceived notions of gender.
Another professional who worked with both Blake Lively and Baldoni on It Ends with Us, said that the whole fiasco was caused because “it was a perfect storm of two opposing personalities.” The Jane the Virgin star truly believes that he’s a feminist but the actress finds it unsettling. Moreover, there are claims of other scenes in Deadpool & Wolverine that mock Baldoni through the character of Nicepool.
Whether or not the Café Gratitude joke was intentionally aimed at Baldoni is unclear, but its existence has certainly added fuel to the fire. For now, all we can do is speculate and watch the drama unfold, both on and off the screen.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
