Justin Baldoni's Defamation Lawsuit against Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds Thrown Out
Defendant dismisses his defamation lawsuit - Defendant's defamation claim thrown out by court judge
Catch up on the latest drama between actors Justin Baldoni (41) and Blake Lively (37) following a New York court's decision to dismiss Baldoni's defamation lawsuit against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds (48). Sources claim Judge Lewis Liman made the call due to Baldoni's inability to adequately back his defamation claims.
Originally, Baldoni sought a whopping $400 million in damages after accusing Lively of defaming him via her allegations of sexual harassment. However, Judge Lewis J. Liman ruled that Lively's statements were protected by law, making them non-actionable. The ruling also dropped allegations of blackmail, leaving only one loose end, the potential re-filing of a revised lawsuit regarding "unjustified contract interference."
For Lively, this ruling is an emphatic victory, say her lawyers. They plan to explore pursuing reparations for legal fees and damages, including punitive damages, against Baldoni and the associated parties.
Lively herself filed a lawsuit in December 2024, claiming sexual harassment and retaliation from Baldoni on the set of the film "Just Once More" (original title: "It Ends With Us"). She alleges that the team from Wayfarer Studios retaliated against her after her complaint.
Lawsuit against "New York Times" Thwarted
Baldoni also tried to take on the "New York Times" with a $250 million defamation lawsuit, but the judge found no grounds for such a case. The "Fair Report Privilege" shielded the media outlet from potential reputation damage.
A representative from the newspaper voiced their satisfaction with the ruling, stating they were relieved the court understood the lawsuit against the "New York Times" was baseless. They emphasized their dedication to standing up for honest reporting.
Jurisdiction and Protections
In a detailed ruling, Judge Liman pointed out that the initial accusations made against Baldoni were lodged in an official complaint filed with the California Civil Rights Department. As such, they were protected under the "Litigation Privilege," which safeguards legal statements from defamation lawsuits.
Similarly, Ryan Reynolds' private labeling of Baldoni as a "sexual predator" fell under this protection since Reynolds based his comments on Lively's account. The same protection applies to Reynolds' PR agent, Leslie Sloane, who relied solely on Lively's portrayal when making public statements.
Upcoming 2026 Trial for Lively's Allegations
A court trial for Blake Lively's lawsuit against Justin Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios is scheduled for March 2026. Whether Baldoni will attempt to reassert individual allegations before then remains to be seen.
- Justin Baldoni
- Blake Lively
- Defamation Lawsuit
- Ryan Reynolds
- New York Times
- US Dollars
- Slander
- In the world of entertainment and pop-culture, celebrities like Justin Baldoni, Blake Lively, and Ryan Reynolds have found themselves at the center of a defamation lawsuit drama.
- The financial stakes in these cases, as seen with Baldoni's $400 million and $250 million claims against Lively and the New York Times respectively, reflect the potential reputation damages that can occur in the public eye.
