Justin Baldoni's Lawsuit Against Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds Dropped
Dismisses Defamation Lawsuit: Richter's Legal Action Against Alleged Slander Dropped - Judge rejects the accuser's defamation claim
The rollercoaster legal saga between Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively, along with her husband Ryan Reynolds, hits a twist with a New York court chucking out Baldoni's defamation lawsuit.
According to media chatter, the ruling judge, Lewis Liman, based his decision on Baldoni's inability to prove his accusations, rendering them groundless.
Baldoni had aimed for $400 million in damages over Lively's sexual harassment allegations, but Judge Lewis J. Liman has now stated that Lively's statements were legally protected. The judgement also dismissed any claims of blackmail, leaving only a tiny loophole for Baldoni to potentially refile a revised lawsuit focusing on unjustified contractual interference.
Blake Lively's camp is hailing this decision as a complete triumph, with her lawyers declaring, "Today's decision is a complete victory and a complete vindication for Blake Lively, as well as all those who were embroiled in Justin Baldoni's and Wayfarer's retaliatory lawsuit – including Ryan Reynolds, Leslie Sloane, and the 'New York Times'."
They plan to seek recompense for legal fees and damages, including punitive damages, against Baldoni and the other accused parties.
Lively v. Baldoni: The Beginning
In late 2024, Lively herself filed a lawsuit against Baldoni for sexual harassment and retaliation on the set of the film "Just Once More." The lawsuit accuses Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios of launching a smear campaign against her after her complaint.
New York Times – Off the Hook
Baldoni also levied a lawsuit against the "New York Times" for its coverage of the case. Judge Liman, however, found no basis for a defamation lawsuit here, as the reporting fell under the "Fair Report Privilege" – a legal safeguard that shields media from being held accountable for potential reputational harm when reporting on ongoing or pending legal proceedings.
The New York Times welcomed the ruling, stating, "We are elated that the court has identified the lawsuit against the 'New York Times' for what it was: a baseless move to hinder honest reporting. Our journalists have approached this story with diligence and fairness."
Protection under Cali Regulations
The ruling also established that the initial allegations against Baldoni were leveled within the framework of an official complaint to the California Civil Rights Bureau. This means the allegations fall under the "Litigation Privilege," which immunizes legal statements from being subject to defamation lawsuits.
Similarly, statements attributed to Ryan Reynolds, who called Baldoni a "sexual predator" privately, as well as Leslie Sloane, Lively's PR agent, who merely relayed Lively's account of events to media, are also shielded under this protection.
Awaiting Trial in 2026
A trial in Lively's lawsuit against Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios is slated for March 2026. It remains to be seen whether Baldoni will seek to reassert individual accusations in the future or if this chapter has truly concluded for him.
- Justin Baldoni
- Blake Lively
- Defamation Lawsuit
- Ryan Reynolds
- New York
- New York Times
- US Dollars
- Slander
In the context of entertainment and pop-culture, Justin Baldoni's defamation lawsuit against Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds, initially filed in New York, has been dismissed. This ruling followed the decision made by Judge Lewis Liman, who deemed Baldoni's accusations against Lively unprovable and hence groundless.
The entertainment world has been following the legal entanglement between Justin Baldoni, Blake Lively, and Ryan Reynolds, with their reputation damages often appearing in headlines and discussions about the industry.
