What in the World Was Ryan Reynolds Thinking?

Most celebrities haven’t a clue how to market their own movies.

They’re actors, not PR professionals. That doesn’t help their cause.

It’s worse than that, though.

Too many stars use their promotional time to torpedo their work. The classic modern example? Rachel Zegler attacked half the country and mocked the source material behind her live-action “Snow White” reboot.

Said reboot crashed and burned at the box office, but she’s not alone.

Many stars use magazine interviews and red carpet chats to disparage large swaths of the country. Others uncork hypocritical lectures that land with a thud.

And then there’s Ryan Reynolds.

The Canadian star could quit Hollywood tomorrow and have a thriving career in marketing. He’s quick-witted and sly, a superstar who single-handedly made the “Deadpool” character a sensation.

Most audiences had no clue about the Marvel Comics character prior to 2016. Reynolds made it his mission to introduce the Merc with a Mouth via funny, snarky video shorts.

He did it again for the sequel, leaning into the funny along the way.

He’s also business savvy, investing in companies like Mint Mobile and making millions in the process.

He hit the red carpet this week to promote “Mayday,” a buddy comedy set in the 1980s. The Apple TV original finds him playing a Maverick-type character who gets stranded behind enemy lines in the Soviet Union.

Enter Nik (Kenneth Branagh), a former KGB agent who loves American culture and tries to rescue him.

It’s a dizzying action-comedy hybrid, with a surprising amount of pro-American sentiment. It’s also unabashedly in love with ’80s pop culture, from Bruce Springsteen tunes to “Top Gun.”

Of course.

So how is Reynolds hawking “Mayday?” By trashing the 1980s. Really.

Ryan Reynolds says ’80s nostalgia “paves over all the trauma” of the “tumultuous” decade:

“The 80s was a brutal, brutal time for people. It was a fucking mess and people forget that. It was a tremendous strife. Socio political tensions everywhere. We were still pretty fresh off… pic.twitter.com/CvNE3KLfff

— Variety (@Variety) September 2, 2026

“The 80s was a brutal, brutal time for people. It was a fucking mess and people forget that. It was a tremendous strife. Socio political tensions everywhere. We were still pretty fresh off a Cuban missile crisis, which was only 15-20 years before. It’s a tumultuous period, but you look back at it now and you’re like, ‘Oh, yeah. ‘Top Gun.’ Cocaine!’ Like, ‘No!’ It was really scary.”

Where to begin?

We can start with his reference to “fresh off the Cuban Missile Crisis,” an event that happened in 1962.

Make it make sense.

More importantly, he’s trashing the decade that his new movie honors. “Mayday” is a love letter to the Reagan era and, to a lesser extent, America. It doesn’t shy away from the country’s flaws, but it celebrates that all-American spirit and trashes Communism.

The trailer even features Neil Diamond’s “America,” for crying out loud. Why in the world would a star with marketing DNA in his blood make such a mistake?

Social media users teed off on Reynolds’ comments.

Literally no one was talking or worrying about the Cuban Missile Crisis. What is he talking about?!

— Jennifer Sey (@JenniferSey) September 3, 2026

The 70s were far worse. The 80s were a celebration that the 70s were over.

— AmishDude (@TheAmishDude) September 3, 2026

What made the 80s special was that almost NO ONE — except some teachers who still thought it was the 60s — was uptight.

Everyone was cool. Everyone could take a joke. You never had to walk on eggshells. The girls were cool. Race relations were cool. We all had part-time jobs.…

— John Ocasio-Rodham Nolte (@NolteNC) September 1, 2026

“Mayday” arrives at the end of the summer movie season and right before Fall’s awards lineup begins. It has next to zero buzz despite Reynolds’ presence and could use every ounce of goodwill possible.

This … this is the very opposite of that.

UPDATE: Larry the Cable Guy weighed in on Reynolds’ comments, tongue firmly planted in cheek, of course.

Cuban Missile crisis? Uh no most of us didn’t worry about it. I only talked about it in history class because it was over in 1962! However I did worry in the 80’s about getting that swatch watch I wanted that was sold out. Gimme a break. The 80’s were awesome. The 80’s like any decade had some challenges but we just came outa the Vietnam war era and it was like a total relief. From Reagan to the fall of Soviet Union, to some of the best classic movies and songs. Nobody getting cancelled for saying dumb stuff. Nobody dropping f bombs as loud as they could at the mall food court because most people at least still knew how to act in public. I was 17 Feb 17 1980. Some of the greatest memories of my life. It was like living in a John Hughes movie before I ever knew who he was. I don’t know what Canada was like for this guy in the 80’s but for most of us that grew up in the states in the 80’s it was pretty awesome and if I had a chance and was granted 1 week to go back in time I’d head straight to 1985 even though I was dead broke. I’m sure x will have the normal people bitching and moaning about this post because they live in a constant state of anger but just like in the 80’s I could care less about or have time for idiots that hate everything . The 80’s rocked. Now excuse me while I pop on some Night Ranger and a little Huey topped with some classic Strait. Let’s Git-r-done!