Ryan Reynolds is facing criticism after a clip from his 2005 film The Amityville Horror resurfaced, showing the actor improvising a slap to then-15-year-old child actor Jesse James.
The unscripted moment, which occurred during a tense scene, has sparked a debate over on-set boundaries and ethical filmmaking practices.
In the scene, Reynolds, portraying a father possessed by a malevolent force, strikes James, who appeared visibly surprised. The slap was not part of the script and was improvised to enhance the realism of the performance. In a 2005 interview with Radio Free, Reynolds described the moment as “disturbing” but added that James found the experience “cool.” He also noted that the film’s script supervisor was deeply upset by the incident.
The clip, widely circulated on social media, has reignited discussions about the treatment of child actors in Hollywood. Critics have called the improvisation “inappropriate,” with some labeling it as “abuse,” while others defended Reynolds, arguing the act contributed to the intensity of the scene.
This controversy comes at a sensitive time for Reynolds, whose wife, Blake Lively, is currently embroiled in a $400 million defamation lawsuit involving her It Ends With Us director, Justin Baldoni. Reynolds has not yet commented on the backlash surrounding the resurfaced clip.
As debates around on-set ethics and creative liberties continue, this incident highlights the ongoing scrutiny faced by actors in the entertainment industry.
