Ryan Reynolds’ heartfelt response to a burn survivor dressing as Deadpool lifts spirits

It doesn’t take much to brighten someone’s day, and Ryan Reynolds proved that with his heartwarming response to a fan. The actor connected with Johnny, a burn survivor from Millington, Tennessee, after he posted a photo on Instagram dressed as Deadpool. Johnny, who goes by @jadiant online, couldn't believe his favorite actor saw his post—and it left him feeling more confident in his journey to embrace his true self.

The young man shared an image of himself in a full Deadpool costume, striking a perfect split, captioning it, “It would make my dream come true if @vancityreynolds got to see this post! I learned to do the splits just for this photo. Deadpool has honestly made me way more confident.”

Johnny explained why the Deadpool character resonates so deeply with him. "Anyone who has read or watched anything about Deadpool knows his face and body are pretty messed up. So it’s only natural that I cosplay him," he wrote. But Johnny goes a step further—he doesn’t wear the iconic Deadpool mask, using the character to show his authentic self.

Johnny suffered burns on 95 percent of his body in a tragic accident in 2023. While playing in a barn behind his home, his dog knocked over a candle, setting the barn on fire. Since then, he has endured over 100 surgeries and even slipped into a six-month coma. Despite this, Johnny emerged stronger, completing physical therapy and taking on the world with newfound strength. He now uses his story to inspire others, working as a bodybuilder, speaker, and medical nurse.

By choosing not to hide his burns, Johnny feels that Deadpool’s character has helped him find confidence in his own skin. "It’s so easy to cover up who I am, and to give in to despair," he admitted. "This is me, and I am not ashamed of it. Deadpool is icy clean, and he’s helped my self-esteem so much. I’m owning who I am, and cosplaying Deadpool makes it that much easier."

Johnny’s dream came true when Ryan Reynolds noticed his post and responded. "Holy sh*t, Jadiant, this made my year. Can’t even describe what this post means to me," the Deadpool star wrote. With his signature humor, Reynolds added, "Also, I can do the splits... but only once a year. And it has to be in the lobby of a hospital."

For Johnny, this was more than he could have hoped for. "Brooo. I can’t believe you have seen it! You made this so worth it," he replied, thanking Reynolds for inspiring him and countless others. "It means the world to me if you keep up with my journey. I’m such a big fan."

Johnny shared a screenshot of the exchange in a separate post, and the online community was thrilled for him. One fan, @tearbear_123, commented, "Yay! I’m so happy he reached out to you. You deserve it. You inspire so many." Another user, @imperfectionz_r_beautiful, wrote, "You inspire a lot of people." Supporters across Instagram celebrated with Johnny, excited that Ryan Reynolds had noticed his incredible story.

Despite the difficulties he has faced, Johnny remains committed to spreading a message of hope and self-acceptance. In an interview with Bored Panda, he explained how his experience has changed his outlook on life. “No one deserves to be unhappy in the way they look, because we’re all beautifully unique,” he shared.

Johnny uses a powerful metaphor to describe his journey. “Sometimes other flowers get more colors, like us people who have gone through tragedy, and we just don’t think we fit in with the rest of the flowers. But the truth is, we are the most beautiful of all the flowers. So embrace your different colors, you’re pretty, there’s no one else like you.”

This inspiring young man continues to motivate others with his confidence, strength, and resilience. And with a little encouragement from Ryan Reynolds, Johnny is showing the world that being true to yourself is the greatest superpower of all.