Judge dismisses Justin Baldoni’s $400 Million defamation lawsuit against Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds
A Hollywood legal drama takes a dramatic turn as a judge throws out Justin Baldoni’s $400 million defamation lawsuit against Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds — ending one of the industry's most high-profile court battles, at least for now.
A judge has just dismissed Justin Baldoni's $400 million lawsuit against Hollywood couple Blake Lively and Ryan Reinolds. This is a step toward drawing important conclusions from the ongoing trial between Lively and Baldoni.
In January of this year, Baldoni filed a lawsuit against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reinolds, known for his role in "Deadpool," because, according to her, they sought to "destroy him and his career" after they starred in the film "It Ends With Us." This complaint further escalated the lawsuit and the lawsuit, leading to a legal battle that continues to this day.
Judge tosses Baldoni’s $400M suit, allows partial refiling against Lively
Justin Baldoni's lawsuit marked a new chapter in the intense legal battle stemming from the film he co-starred in and directed with Blake Lively. Lively's attorneys, Esra Hudson and Mike Gottlieb, hailed the judge's ruling as a "total victory and complete vindication," calling the $400 million lawsuit a "sham" from the outset. The court granted motions from Lively, Ryan Reynolds, his publicist Leslie Sloane, and the New York Times to dismiss the defamation claims.
In addition to dismissing the lawsuit against the New York Times—which Baldoni had accused of publishing information "riddled with inaccuracies and misrepresentations"—the judge left open the possibility for Baldoni to file an amended version of his complaint. This new lawsuit could include allegations of tortious interference with contract against Reynolds and Lively, and breach of implied covenant against Lively, provided it is filed by June 23.
Lively accuses Baldoni of harassment and smear campaign.
This legal battle began in December 2024, when Blake Lively filed a civil rights complaint against Baldoni, alleging sexual harassment during the film's production and retaliation after reporting the incidents. Baldoni categorically denied these allegations. Lively later filed a formal lawsuit, supported by evidence such as hundreds of text messages showing an alleged smear campaign by Baldoni's team.
Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds remain at the center of public attention after a judge dismissed Justin Baldoni’s $400 million defamation lawsuit, highlighting the intense legal drama surrounding the film’s production. Photo: X
One of the leaked messages stated that she could be "buried," reinforcing Lively's claim of a deliberate strategy to ruin her reputation. The New York Times exclusively published this information in an article titled "We Can Bury Anyone: Inside a Hollywood Smear Machine," revealing that Lively had filed her complaint with the Department of Civil Rights. Although these processes are typically kept confidential, the case quickly garnered media attention and sparked a debate about power, harassment, and retaliation in Hollywood.
