Ryan Reynolds is now one of the most popular actors globally, especially in the superhero genre, but did you know that the Deadpool star was once married to Scarlett Johansson, who plays Black Widow in the MCU?

The two were married from 2008 to 2011, with Johansson at 23 and Reynolds at 31 when they tied the knot. Although they’ve both moved on, rumors surfaced shortly after their separation, claiming that Reynolds had been cheating on Johansson with Blake Lively during their marriage.

So how did the rumor start? It all comes down to timing. Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds met while filming Green Lantern in 2010, during which Reynolds was still married to Scarlett Johansson. In October 2010, Lively ended her relationship with Penn Badgley, and by December 2010, Reynolds and Johansson announced their divorce, which was finalized in July 2011.

So how did this rumor start? It all comes down to timing. Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively met while filming Green Lantern in 2010, while Reynolds was still married to Scarlett Johansson. In October 2010, Lively ended her relationship with Penn Badgley, and in December 2010, Reynolds and Johansson announced their divorce, which was finalized in July 2011.

Just two months later, Reynolds began publicly dating Lively, which raised suspicions. Many found it curious that both had ended their previous relationships while filming together and then quickly started dating and eventually married.

Their first public appearance as a couple was at the Green Lantern premiere in June 2011, sparking dating rumors. By October 2011, they were seen together in Boston, further fueling speculation. A source later confirmed they were indeed a couple, and they spent the holidays together in Vancouver. The pair married on September 9, 2012, in a private ceremony at Boone Hall Plantation in South Carolina.

As you can see, there was a two-year gap between Reynolds’ divorce and his marriage to Blake Lively, but many fans found it odd that they began dating just two months after his divorce was finalized.

Reynolds himself later explained how their relationship began:

We were buddies for a long time, which I think is the best way to have a relationship, to start as friends. About a year after Green Lantern had come and gone and we were both single, we went on a double date — she was on a date with another guy, and I was on a date with another girl — and it was like the most awkward date for the respective parties because we were just like fireworks coming across,

Source: People

There’s no concrete evidence to suggest that Reynolds cheated on Johansson with Lively; the speculation largely hinges on timing. Reynolds has referred to a few months as a “long time,” but that’s not necessarily indicative of infidelity.

Currently, both Johansson and Reynolds are happily married to other people. Johansson began dating Saturday Night Live co-head writer Colin Jost in May 2017. They got engaged in May 2019 and married in October 2020 at their New York home. They welcomed a son in August 2021, and Johansson divides her time between New York and Los Angeles.

Reynolds remains married to Lively, and the couple now has four children together.

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