Jason Bateman and Will Arnett have turned years of friendship into one of SmartLess’s biggest strengths, so naturally, their on-air roasting can sometimes sound more dramatic than it actually is. After a recent episode featured an awkward bathroom-related anecdote that caught the attention of tabloids, one outlet apparently took the story a step further by trying to manufacture a feud between the longtime friends.

The supposed “longstanding rift” had never been publicly reported before, making the hosts’ reaction to the rumor even more amusing. Instead of treating the story seriously, Bateman and Arnett laughed at the idea that their usual SmartLess banter could somehow be transformed into a celebrity feud.

Jason Bateman and Will Arnett explained that the situation became even more bizarre when a tabloid writer reached out to them directly, looking for a comment about an alleged “longstanding rift” between Bateman and Arnett. Since no such feud had ever existed or been publicly reported, the idea quickly became another source of amusement for the SmartLess trio, who couldn't resist poking fun at how dramatically the original story had been spun.

“That's a fun headline,” said Jason Bateman, as the hosts discussed how the story snowballed.

“Page Six picked it on this news day. Some of the headlines were ridiculous, right? Like trying to imply that you shut me down and you are upset and I got too personal and too gross,” Will Arnett added on the SmartLess podcast.

The original moment came when Bateman asked Arnett about whether he had ever pooped in front of his former wife, Amy Poehler, on the SmartLess podcast. Arnett immediately pushed back, telling Bateman he was looking for clicks and insisting that the question was none of his business. While the exchange was clearly part of the show's irreverent dynamic, headlines later framed it as evidence of tension between the pair.

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According to the hosts, one writer even reached out seeking comment on an alleged “longstanding rift” between two of them. The absurdity of the claim became another SmartLess punchline, with publicist Lewis Kay also getting pulled into the tabloid fallout.

While  Jason Bateman can apparently laugh off a fictional feud, his next Netflix project is considerably more serious. The actor's Aggregate Films is attached to an untitled scripted drama about the New York Yankees, alongside Michael Costigan, MLB Studios and creator Josh Wakely.

“Details about the project are minimal so far, other than the fact that the series will take on ‘one of the most decorated franchises in American sports,’” Variety reported. The outlet added that the series will “take place across the team's several eras.”

Josh Wakely developed the concept after securing rights directly from MLB, bringing a major sports franchise into the scripted television space. Meanwhile, Aggregate Films continues to strengthen its relationship with Netflix following successful projects including Ozark and Black Rabbit.

For now, Jason Bateman has plenty to keep him busy, from developing the Yankees drama to continuing his SmartLess banter with Arnett and Hayes. With a major Netflix project on the horizon, the actor is clearly keeping his focus on work rather than the fictional feuds tabloids create. And if the tabloids want to turn that banter into headlines, he and his co-hosts seem more than happy to laugh along.

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What do you think of the fake feud story? Let us know in the comments!