Ryan Reynolds has ingeniously leveraged recent viral discourse surrounding Quentin Tarantino's remarks into a compelling marketing campaign for Mint Mobile. The new advertisement, titled “Everybody Loves Matthew Lillard,” features Reynolds and actor Matthew Lillard directly addressing Tarantino’s controversial statement that he “never cared for” Lillard as an actor. This comment had previously ignited significant fan outrage and support for Lillard, and the ad now allows Lillard to playfully engage with the situation, supported by Reynolds’ distinctive brand of humor and ad-based commentary.

In the opening of the ad, Reynolds boldly proclaims, “There are only two things that are universally loved, saving money and beloved actor Matthew Lillard.” Lillard, with characteristic self-awareness, immediately counters this with a humorous twist: “I appreciate it. I mean, it’s not unanimous…” This exchange serves as a clear, albeit unspoken, reference to Tarantino’s critique, subtly emphasizing that Lillard’s extensive cult following, built over decades, holds more weight than any single director's opinion.

Tarantino’s initial statements had targeted several actors, including Lillard, Paul Dano, and Owen Wilson, whom he dismissed with a blunt, “I don’t care for him,” reserving particularly harsh words for Dano. For Lillard, these remarks, despite his initial public attempt to shrug them off, evidently had a deeper impact. During a recent appearance at GalaxyCon Columbus, Lillard addressed Tarantino’s comments during a `Five Nights at Freddy's 2` panel. When he informed the crowd, “Quentin Tarantino this week said he didn’t like me as an actor,” it was met with audible boos. While Lillard initially tried to dismiss it with, “Eh, whatever. Who gives a s***,” he later conceded, “It f***ing sucks… It hurts your feelings. And you wouldn’t say that to Tom Cruise.”

The Mint Mobile ad continues with playful banter, as Lillard jokingly expresses uncertainty about his presence, and Reynolds playfully retorts that he doesn’t “care for the attitude.” Lillard also humorously refuses to utter his iconic "zoinks" catchphrase on camera. While the tone is light, the underlying message is potent: Lillard, though perhaps not favored by Tarantino, continues to be profoundly appreciated by a vast fan base and numerous peers across various genres, from his memorable roles in `Scream` and `Scooby-Doo` to his recent work in `Five Nights at Freddy's` where he portrays William Afton.

Lillard himself succinctly articulated this dichotomy during his GalaxyCon appearance: “I’m very popular in this room. I’m not very popular in Hollywood… two totally different microcosms.” The Mint Mobile advertisement, with Reynolds strategically positioning Lillard as both the punchline and the hero, skillfully taps into this very reality. It exemplifies Reynolds’ knack for transforming public controversies into comedic and supportive moments, turning Lillard’s vulnerability into a shared experience of collective appreciation.

Speaking of his continued relevance, Matthew Lillard is set to reprise his role as William Afton in `Five Nights at Freddy's 2`. This sequel, a PG-13 Horror Mystery, is directed by Emma Tammi and written by Scott Cawthon. It is anticipated for release on December 5, 2025. The cast also includes Josh Hutcherson as Mike, Elizabeth Lail as Vanessa, and Piper Rubio as Abby, with Jason Blum and Scott Cawthon serving as producers. This film continues the `Five Nights at Freddy's` franchise, reinforcing Lillard's presence in popular genre filmmaking.