Ryan Reynolds told attendees at the Toronto International Film Festival on Friday that he is not “MAGA” or “extreme anything,” and recounted an encounter in which he and a co‑worker who supports former President Donald Trump swapped phones to compare social‑media algorithms.
The Canadian actor said he does not have to share another person’s politics to work with them and criticized what he described as the “us vs. them” mentality of identity politics. “There's nothing better than sitting on set in America, working with somebody who's MAGA — and, you know, I'm not MAGA, I'm not extreme anything, but — certainly not that way — and I say, ‘Hey, let's swap phones for a second. I want to see your algorithm. Check out mine,’” Reynolds said, according to Richmond News and coverage of his remarks.
Reynolds said the comparison was revealing. He told the audience he was “blown away” by what he saw on the other phone and that the MAGA supporter, after viewing Reynolds' own feed, dismissed it as "fine." Reynolds used the anecdote to illustrate how different online ecosystems can reinforce divergent perspectives without necessarily reflecting the full complexity of individuals who occupy those different spaces.
The actor framed the story as evidence that people with divergent political identities can collaborate professionally. He said he does not need to agree with a colleague to work alongside them, and that dismissive categorizations can deepen divisions. Those comments came amid broader public conversations about polarization and the role of social media in shaping political views.
Reynolds, known for his film work and public profile on social platforms, spoke during TIFF appearances that have drawn attention for both artistic and cultural commentary. His remarks joined other festival commentary on politics and civic discourse, reflecting how cultural events can become venues for wider social debates.
While Reynolds did not identify the film or project tied to the specific appearance in these remarks, his anecdote centered on the everyday dynamics of collaboration on set and the influence of algorithmic curation on perceptions. He said the encounter convinced him that exposure to different information streams can produce immediate, tangible differences in what people find compelling or persuasive.
Reynolds’ comments resonated with audiences and commentators who have debated whether creative workplaces can bridge political divides. He urged moving past reductive labels and urged greater attention to personal interactions that reveal nuance beneath public political identities.
The Toronto International Film Festival runs annually and often draws actors, filmmakers and public figures who combine promotion of their work with commentary on cultural and political issues. Reynolds’ remarks at TIFF added to a stream of festival moments in which artists addressed the wider social environment that surrounds cinematic work.