Ryan Reynolds drew criticism online after a brief red-carpet exchange with a young CTV interviewer at the Toronto International Film Festival, where he was promoting the documentary John Candy: I Like Me.
Video and eyewitness accounts of the encounter show Reynolds initiating the interaction by addressing the child with, "Hi, what's your question for me buddy?" When the child replied, "Hi Ryan, nice to meet you," Reynolds said, "Nice to meet you too, let's skip to the question," then smiled and laughed as bystanders reacted. The child asked about the amount of Chipotle mayo on Reynolds's Tim Horton breakfast, and Reynolds responded, "You know what, I wish I had some control over that, I can send a strongly-worded letter to the chef. Consider it done young man." He added, "What's your name? Liam? I'll make it downright vicious, but I'll say it's from you though," before walking away.
The clip circulated on social media, where some users called Reynolds "rude" and "condescending." Commenters pointed to the actor's tone and the brevity of the exchange as reasons for their negative reaction. Others on social platforms described the scene as awkward but greeted the interaction with less criticism. Media outlets covering the festival reported the incident in the context of Reynolds's appearance at the film's premiere.
Reynolds, who has appeared at high-profile red carpet events throughout his career, did not immediately issue a statement responding to the online backlash. TIFF organizers and representatives for Reynolds did not provide comment when contacted by media covering the event. The child interviewer is identified in reports as a local CTV journalist.
The interaction occurred amid a packed festival schedule that included press appearances and premieres for a range of films and documentaries. The John Candy documentary marks one of several high-profile projects drawing attention during the Toronto International Film Festival.
Social media scrutiny of celebrity behavior on red carpets has been a recurring feature of recent festivals, with short, recorded moments often shared widely and prompting rapid public reaction. In this case, viewers focused on the dynamics between an adult celebrity and a young interviewer, raising questions about tone and on-camera etiquette in brief public exchanges.
Coverage of the incident has remained focused on the clip of the encounter and immediate online response. No further developments or statements from Reynolds or his representatives had been reported as of publication.