While Ryan Reynolds celebrated a Critics Choice Award win for "Deadpool & Wolverine," he and his wife, Blake Lively, were conspicuously absent from the ceremony. Their ongoing legal dispute with actor-director Justin Baldoni continues to make headlines, serving as a source of public fascination and comedic fodder for awards show host Chelsea Handler.

Reynolds marked his film's shared Best Comedy victory on social media, acknowledging co-winner "A Real Pain." Interestingly, on the same evening, he also documented attending a J.P. Morgan summit alongside Disney CEO Bob Iger, agent Bryan Lourd, and his mother.

Meanwhile, Chelsea Handler used her opening monologue to poke fun at the Lively-Baldoni legal battle, expressing gratitude for the "distraction" it provided. She quipped about the unlikelihood of a sequel to their shared film, "It Ends With Us," referencing the ongoing legal drama.

The legal entanglement stems from Lively's accusations of sexual harassment against Baldoni during the filming of "It Ends With Us." Baldoni countersued, alleging that Lively's claims are false and intended to salvage her reputation after allegedly attempting to exert excessive control over the film's production and subsequent press tour. The case involves leaked communications and behind-the-scenes footage presented as evidence.

A recent court hearing saw a judge instruct both legal teams to adhere to guidelines limiting interaction with the press to prevent potential jury prejudice. While they can respond to external publicity, they are barred from making statements likely to influence a jury. The trial is scheduled for March 2026.