Ryan Reynolds found himself $25,000 poorer Sunday night after being gleefully prodded by a Broadway audience to win a charity auction for a hat worn by Jonathan Groff during his final performance of Just in time.
Groff’s closing night as Bobby Darin gave audience members the chance to bid on his signed hat, with all proceeds going to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.
Bidding started at $5,000 and climbed quickly, leaving Reynolds visibly surprised as he found himself in a battle with other members of the public.
“Wow,” he could be seen uttering as the numbers increased, before bidding $20,000.
The crowd wasn’t done with him yet.
“We love you, Ryan,” someone shouted, as the MC kept the pressure on. “You know I want more, 21?”
When Reynolds seemed hesitant, she was blunt: “Well, we could just end it if you want to do a big act. It’s for charity, honey!”
That did the trick. Reynolds stood up and shouted “25!” ”, and the hat was his.
Groff, 41, personally presented the award, with the two men hugging and chatting before Reynolds attempted to put the hat on his daughter’s head.
Reynolds, 49, was at the theater with his wife Blake Lively and three of their four children, James, 11, Inez, 9, and Betty, 6.
Lively sat behind her husband with Betty, while Reynolds was flanked by James and Inez. Their youngest son, Olin, aged three, was not present at the performance.
