Blake Lively attempts to disregard Justin Baldoni's defamation claim, asserting California legislation shields individuals accused of sexual harassment.
Firing Back: Blake Lively's Defense Against Justin Baldoni's Massive Lawsuit
Blake Lively isn't backing down from Justin Baldoni's $400 million lawsuit, countering it as a vindictive attempt to retaliate against her for speaking out about sexual harassment allegations. In a vigorous response, Lively's legal team is arguing that Baldoni's lawsuit is nothing more than a public relations stunt and a part of his sinister campaign to punish her.
The drama unfolded with Lively's motion to dismiss, filed on Thursday, followed shortly by her husband Ryan Reynolds' own motion to drop him from the case. Baldoni, his business associates, and his production company, Wayfarer Studios, are suing both Lively and Reynolds, along with their publicist, Leslie Sloan, accusing them of "hijacking" his film and then seeking to "destroy" his career.
Lively's attorneys have pointed to California law, specifically Assembly Bill 933 (AB 933), to bolster their claim. This law, enacted in October 2023, offers legal protections to individuals who report allegations of sexual harassment, assault, or discrimination. Invoking this law, Lively's legal team argues that Baldoni's lawsuit is baseless and retaliatory, as it targets her for speaking out against such misconduct.
Lively's lawyers have emphasized that she was "legally entitled to file her complaint and disclose it to the public," including to the press, citing the NY Times' reporting on the matter. They further state that Baldoni's complaint resorts to implausible conjecture and conspiracy theories to allege that Lively "falsified" her allegations.
In a sharp turn of events, Lively's attorneys have even asked the court to award her attorneys' fees and treble damages and punitive damages. In Reynolds' request to be dropped from the lawsuit, his legal team argued that Baldoni's case amounts to "hurt feelings" and that Reynolds' only involvement has been as a "supportive spouse."
The legal battle between Lively and Baldoni is far from over, with the trial currently set for March 9, 2026. Both parties have indicated that settlement talks are premature, hinting that they are prepared to proceed with the court case. The debate surrounding the motion to dismiss continues as both parties await the court's decision.
[1] [https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/12/arts/television/blake-lively-justin-baldoni-lawsuit.html][2] [https://www.deadline.com/2022/10/blake-lively-justin-baldoni-lawsuit-dismissal-motion-400-million-defamation-sexual-harassment-retaliation-3146178/][3] [https://thehill.com/entertainment/hollywood/4053151-blake-lively-and-ryan-reynolds-deny-defamation-claims-by-justin-baldoni-related-to-sexual-harassment-allegations/][4] [https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/blake-lively-justin-baldoni-lawyer-slams-allegations-of-fabricated-sexual-harassment-claims-1235101803/]
- Blake Lively's legal team argues that Justin Baldoni's defamation lawsuit against her is a part of a sinister campaign to punish her, similar to an entertainment stunt, rather than a legitimate legal matter.
- During the legal battle, Blake Lively's lawyers invoked California's Assembly Bill 933 (AB 933), stating that Baldoni's lawsuit is baseless and retaliatory, as it targets her for speaking out against sexual harassment.
- In a move to escalate the legal dispute, Blake Lively's attorneys have requested the court to award her attorneys' fees and treble damages and punitive damages, suggesting that Baldoni's lawsuit against her is without merit.
