Ryan Reynolds insists women are ‘held to different standards’

Bang Showbiz | Los Angeles

Ryan Reynolds has asserted that women are "held to a different set of standards." The 48-year-old actor, who is married to fellow star Blake Lively, expressed that women, both in the entertainment industry and in everyday life, often feel compelled to "hide their strength" in order to succeed.

While presenting the Best Film of the Year award to Wicked at the National Board of Review Annual Awards Gala on Tuesday, Reynolds remarked, “Wicked is indeed wicked. It dares to focus on two powerful women. It explores a nuanced, complex relationship that has resonated with people for over two decades on stage.”

He continued, “Stories about women seem to be held to a different set of standards, meaning they are often held to the standards women are subjected to in life: You must be perfect. You must hide your strength. You must shape-shift or placate.”

Meanwhile, WME has denied allegations that Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively pressured the talent agency to drop Justin Baldoni. The 37-year-old actress recently accused her It Ends With Us director and co-star of sexual harassment. In response to Baldoni's countersuit, the talent agency refuted claims that the couple influenced the decision to drop him as a client.

In a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, WME clarified, "In Baldoni’s filing, there is a claim that Reynolds pressured Baldoni’s agent at the Deadpool and Wolverine premiere. This is not true. Baldoni’s former representative was not at the Deadpool and Wolverine premiere, nor was there any pressure from Reynolds or Lively at any time to drop Baldoni as a client."

WME parted ways with Baldoni on December 21, just hours after Blake Lively filed a lawsuit against him for sexual harassment. Lively accused her former director of causing her "severe emotional distress."