A Joke Turned Serious: Ryan Reynolds’ Colonoscopy Revealed a Hidden Danger
Only about 60% of men over the age of 50 stay up to date with routine colonoscopies — and Ryan Reynolds just offered a very public reminder of why that matters.
Cancer is no laughing matter. Ryan Reynolds, however, has never been afraid to use humor to tackle uncomfortable subjects. In this case, his trademark wit — combined with a promise he couldn’t escape — helped bring attention to a lifesaving screening in an unexpectedly entertaining way.
The story began with a playful wager between Reynolds and his Welcome to Wrexham co-star Rob McElhenney, who also co-owns the Welsh football club Wrexham A.F.C. alongside him. The challenge? McElhenney claimed he could learn Welsh, the official language of Wales. Reynolds didn’t believe him.
The consequence of losing was clear: if McElhenney succeeded, Reynolds would undergo a colonoscopy — and share the entire experience publicly on YouTube.
About half a minute into the uploaded video, titled “Rob & Ryan Lead From Behind,” McElhenney starts speaking Welsh with impressive fluency. Bet lost.
Known for his comedic antics — from his mock rivalry with Hugh Jackman to elaborate talk-show pranks — Reynolds leaned fully into the moment. But beneath the jokes was a serious purpose. As he put it, spreading awareness about colon cancer screening was “enough motivation to let a camera follow me while one was shoved up my ass.”
The video documents Reynolds arriving at the hospital early in the morning, joking with medical staff, discussing the procedure with his doctor, and being wheeled into the exam room. He notes that this was his first colonoscopy, something many men delay or avoid entirely.
After the roughly 25-minute procedure, Reynolds begins waking up — and that’s when the doctor delivers important news. An “extremely subtle” polyp had been found and removed. While polyps are often benign, they can become dangerous if left undetected. Reynolds had experienced no symptoms whatsoever.
“This is exactly why you do this,” the doctor explained. “You’re interrupting the natural progression of a disease that could have turned into cancer and caused serious harm. Instead, you found it early — and removed it.”
Through humor, honesty, and a bit of embarrassment, Reynolds turned a routine medical screening into a powerful reminder: early detection saves lives.