Ryan Reynolds is facing intense backlash after an old behind-the-scenes prank on his Deadpool 2 makeup team recently resurfaced online.
The clip shows the actor destroying hours of painstaking prosthetic work, prompting viewers to question whether the joke was worth the crew’s time and effort.
The video has also renewed scrutiny of Reynolds and his wife, Blake Lively, after their Justin Baldoni lawsuit controversy earlier this year.
Highlights
- Ryan Reynolds’ eight-hour makeup prank on the film crew resurfaces, leaving viewers frustrated with his joke.
- “If it isn’t enjoyable for everyone, it’s not a prank,” one angry viewer said as the actor faces accusations of “bullying.”
- The viral clip has resurfaced amid renewed scrutiny of Reynolds and his wife, Blake Lively, over their legal battle with Justin Baldoni.
One viewer wrote, “He is a complete pr*ck who is infamous in the film industry for treating the crew like trash!”
Ryan Reynolds spent nearly eight hours in the makeup chair before pulling a prank on the Deadpool 2 makeup crew
The resurfaced footage was included in official Deadpool 2 behind-the-scenes promotional material, reportedly released through the film’s official social media account ahead of its home-video release in 2019.
It shows Ryan sitting in the makeup chair for around seven to eight hours as lead makeup designer Bill Corso and his team transformed him into the heavily scarred Wade Wilson.
The process reportedly involved applying detailed silicone prosthetics across his face and neck to create Deadpool’s distinctive appearance.
After the lengthy application was complete, Reynolds took a look at himself in the mirror and appeared dissatisfied with the result.
“It's all wrong. We're going to need to start again, guys,” he was heard telling the exhausted crew before beginning to rip the prosthetics off his face.
The prank video was originally filmed in the mid-to-late 2010s during production of the Deadpool franchise
The artists appeared visibly stunned as their hours of work seemed to be destroyed in seconds.
Some reportedly walked out of the frame, while one crew member could be seen throwing his brush and saying, “F**k this.”
According to some reports, Ryan had learned filming for the day had been canceled, but let the team finish the application before revealing the joke.
Although some fans have treated the moment as an example of Reynolds’ mischievous sense of humor, others slammed the prank as “bullying.”
One critic wrote, “What's funny about making hardworking crew members believe their efforts were wasted?”
Another user commented, “The makeup team deserved overtime, an apology and probably a week off after that little prank.”
Several viewers expressed their frustration, with one writing, “If it isn’t enjoyable for everyone, it’s not a prank. It’s bullying!”
A third user added, “This still s**ks because they spent the time and effort to do this, regardless of whether shoots were canceled or not.”
One comment read, “Really turned an 8-hour makeup session into a prank opportunity lol the makeup team deserved a raise for their patience!”
Others said, “The way that guy threw his brush and said ‘f**k this,’ says it was not funny or fun for them.”
Another commenter summed up, “Pranks, if you like doing them, should be funny, not cruel and disrespectful like this one.”
The renewed criticism also comes against the backdrop of the legal dispute involving Blake and her It Ends With Us co-star and director, Justin Baldoni.
Lively had accused Baldoni and others involved in the film of misconduct and of “orchestrating a campaign to damage her reputation.”
The resurfaced video comes as Ryan and his wife, Blake Lively, continue to face scrutiny over their legal dispute with Justin Baldoni
Justin repeatedly denied the allegations and brought his own legal claims against Blake and Ryan.
Leaked messages reportedly revealed that Reynolds and Lively actively pressured executives, allegedly ran a smear campaign, and worked behind the scenes to get Baldoni dropped by his agency.
The public scrutiny intensified when records showed Ryan allegedly created the character "Nicepool" in Deadpool & Wolverine specifically to mock Baldoni during their legal battle.
The fallout also alienated the couple from their long-time Hollywood friends and industry partners, including Taylor Swift.
Blake even ended her 20-year professional relationship with her long-time publicist, Leslie Sloan, in September this year.
The legal battle between Blake and Justin concluded in May 2026 when both parties officially reached an out-of-court settlement.
While the old makeup prank had no connection to the It Ends With Us controversy, its timing has contributed to the cold reception the resurfaced footage has received from netizens.
As one social media user put it, “I hate Ryan Reynolds, no, not for this, just in general I can’t stand him!”
“He and his wife deserve each other. How many times do these celebs get away with disrespecting people?!” one user wrote
