Ryan Reynolds has playfully teased Jonathan Bailey, joking that the “perfect” actor is setting the bar too high and making the rest of Hollywood “look terrible.”
The 48-year-old actor took a jab at the Wicked: Part One star during his speech at the National Board of Review Awards gala in New York City.
As per People, Reynolds humorously accused Bailey of being “objectively perfect” while presenting the film.
In his first public appearance since his wife, Blake Lively, filed a complaint against It Ends With Us co-star Justin Baldoni, Reynolds said, “I have one note.”
“I think we can all agree that Jonathan Bailey is objectively perfect. Maybe a little too perfect. Honestly, I would’ve preferred fewer scenes with Mr. Bailey.”
Reynolds kept the jokes coming, adding, “Being good is great, but being great? That’s a problem.”
“You can’t just go around spraying charisma at an enraptured audience like it’s nothing. Sure, it feels good in the moment, but it could disrupt the entire industry.”
The Deadpool & Wolverine star ended by poking fun at how Bailey’s charm is raising the bar too high, joking, “He’s making the rest of us look terrible.”
He went on, “…The HLMS, or Hollywood Leading Man Society, simply cannot sustain a standard of performance this high and it is in our collective best interest that Jonathan Bailey tone it the f – – – down.”
“I cannot work harder than I already work and plastic surgery frightens me, Johnny … Let’s just pump the talent breaks or get out of f— town.”
Despite the playful roasting, Reynolds praised Bailey, calling him “hardworking,” “kind,” and “easy on the eyes.”
But he couldn’t resist one last jab, “But the HLMS relies on predictable mediocrity. Do not force our hand, Bailey.”
The evening was a big win for Wicked: Part One, which earned awards for Best Film and Best Director, along with a Spotlight Award recognizing the “creative collaboration” of stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande.
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