Ryan Reynolds recalls bus door embarrassment in front of childhood crush
Synopsis
Ryan Reynolds once rode a bus in the wrong direction for 45 minutes just to sit next to his childhood crush — and his dramatic exit attempt ended with him banging on the side of the moving bus, backpack caught in the doors. The resurfaced Graham Norton Show clip is a masterclass in the self-deprecating humour that has made Reynolds one of Hollywood's most relatable stars.
Key Takeaways
Ryan Reynolds shared a childhood story about riding a bus the wrong way for 45 minutes just to sit next to a girl he liked.
He was approximately 11 years old at the time of the incident.
Attempting a cool exit inspired by Don Johnson's Miami Vice look, he lingered too long and the bus doors closed on his backpack .
The driver had to stop the bus and release him; Reynolds said he 'could never look at her again.' The story resurfaced via a clip from The Graham Norton Show , drawing renewed attention online.
Hollywood actor Ryan Reynolds once shared a hilariously mortifying childhood memory — getting trapped by bus doors while trying to look cool in front of a girl he had a crush on. The anecdote resurfaced online via a clip from The Graham Norton Show, quickly drawing fresh attention from fans.
The Story Behind the Crush
Reynolds revealed that as a young boy, around 11 years old, he was so smitten with a girl that he would deliberately board a bus travelling in the wrong direction — away from his home — just to sit beside her for 45 minutes. He laughed at the memory, quipping, 'I love it when you're young, it's so cute. When you're older, it's just stalking.'
The Backpack Disaster
The story reached its cringe peak when Reynolds described the moment he attempted to make a suave exit. 'I decided to, like, kind of hit her with, like, this cool look or something. Like, this, like, one of these, like, real sort of Don Johnson, Miami Vice kind of things,' he recalled. He lingered a beat too long trying to deliver the dramatic parting glance — and the bus doors snapped shut on his backpack.
The bus began pulling away with Reynolds effectively tethered to it, forcing him to bang on the side until the driver stopped and released him. 'I could never look at her again,' he admitted, to the evident delight of the studio audience.
Why the Clip Is Circulating Again
The resurfaced segment is a reminder of Reynolds's reputation for self-deprecating humour, a quality that has endeared him to audiences well beyond his on-screen work. The Graham Norton Show clip format — celebrities trading candid, unscripted anecdotes — regularly generates viral replay cycles, and Reynolds's storytelling style lends itself particularly well to the format. This is not the first time one of his chat-show moments has found a second life online.
Reynolds Off Screen
Reynolds, best known for the Deadpool franchise, has built a public persona that leans heavily into wit and vulnerability — a contrast to the action-hero roles he often plays. Anecdotes like this one reinforce that image, keeping fan engagement high even between major film releases.
Point of View
The willingness to mine genuine childhood embarrassment for laughs reads as authenticity, whether rehearsed or not. It also underscores the Graham Norton Show's unique value as an archive of unscripted star moments that keep generating traffic years after broadcast. For Reynolds, every resurfaced anecdote is essentially free publicity between film cycles.
NationPress
2 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What embarrassing story did Ryan Reynolds share on The Graham Norton Show?
Ryan Reynolds recalled how, at around 11 years old, he would ride a bus in the wrong direction for 45 minutes just to sit next to a girl he had a crush on. On one occasion, he tried to give her a cool parting look as he got off, delayed too long, and the bus doors closed on his backpack — leaving him banging on the side of the moving bus until the driver stopped.
Where did the Ryan Reynolds bus story clip come from?
The clip is from The Graham Norton Show, a British chat show known for its casual, unscripted celebrity conversations. The segment has resurfaced on the internet, drawing fresh attention from fans.
How old was Ryan Reynolds during the bus incident?
Reynolds said he was no more than about 11 years old at the time. He also joked that doing the same thing as an adult 'is just stalking,' contrasting the innocence of a childhood crush with adult behaviour.
Why is this Ryan Reynolds clip going viral again?
Clips from The Graham Norton Show regularly resurface online because the format — celebrities sharing candid, unscripted anecdotes — ages well and travels easily on social platforms. Reynolds's self-deprecating delivery has made this particular story a recurring fan favourite.
