I was minding my business on TikTok this evening when Apple TV+ decided to tell me Ryan Reynolds has a new movie coming out… This September. I already know I’ll most likely watch it when it becomes available in my area.
What surprised me wasn’t the trailer. It was the comment section of the post.
Oh my Goodness… The hate was loud. Really really loud.
I found some commentors asking, “Wait… what happened?” “Why does everyone suddenly hate Ryan Reynolds?” “Do we not like Ryan Reynolds anymore?”
I didn’t wonder along with them because I knew exactly why they were hating.
A lot of the backlash stems from the ongoing legal dispute involving Reynold’s wife, Blake Lively, and actor/director Justin Baldoni. Ryan stood by his wife publicly… as most husbands probably would. This made many people feel disappointed by the position he took. Whether you agree with him or not, opinions have become incredibly divided.
I won’t lie. For a brief moment, I felt caught in the middle too.
I’ve always liked Ryan Reynolds. His sense of humor is effortless, his acting is brilliant, and he has this way of making almost every role enjoyable to watch.
So, did the controversy make me pause? Yes it sure did.
Did it make me hate him? No.
And that’s when another thought crossed my mind.
Why do we find it so easy to hate people these days?
Not disagree with them. Not question them. Not even criticize them. Just… hate them.
It reminded me of Colleen Hoover… And just to add, this whole Reynolds controversy stems from the period of the movie production of Hoovers It Ends with Us.
I’ve watched people tear Hoover apart online for years. The funny thing is, I’ve never even taken the time to investigate every reason behind the criticism. I simply know she’s become one of those people the internet has collectively decided to dislike.
Yet, somehow, millions of people have laughed, cried and healed through her books.
Then there’s Morgan Wallen.
Recently, I found myself reading about some of his past controversies. There were arrests, poor decisions and headlines that weren’t exactly flattering. Did it change the fact that I love his music?
No it didn’t.
His songs still make me smile.
They still tell stories that resonate with me.
So I made peace with something. I don’t have to approve of every decision an artist has ever made before I can appreciate what they create.
I can enjoy Morgan Wallen’s music without defending his mistakes.
I can admire Ryan Reynolds’ talent without pretending to know everything about his personal life.
I can appreciate Colleen Hoover’s creativity without making her my moral compass.
Maybe that’s where I’ve landed.
The internet doesn’t seem to leave much room for middle ground anymore. It’s almost as if we’re expected to pick a side immediately.
Love them.
Cancel them.
Support them.
Boycott them.
No middle ground.
But life has taught me that human beings are far more complicated than hashtags and comment sections.
People are flawed, they disappoint us, they grow, they make mistakes… Sometimes they apologize… Sometimes they don’t.
Sometimes we choose to keep supporting their work and sometimes we don’t.
That’s a personal decision, and I respect it.
For me, though, I don’t want to join every online pile-on just because it’s trending.
I’d rather think, read, make my own conclusions and remember that someone can create something beautiful while still being an imperfect human being.
If we demanded perfection from every artist before enjoying their work, our playlists would become very quiet, our bookshelves much emptier, and our watchlists surprisingly very very short.
So yes… I’ll probably watch the Ryan Reynolds movie.
I’ll still listen to Morgan Wallen.
I’ll probably pick up another Colleen Hoover book if the story interests me.
I won’t do all that because I think any of them are perfect, I will do it because I’m learning to appreciate the art without expecting perfection from the artist.
And honestly… I think there’s a little more peace in living that way… Peace for me.
