Lively's Victory: Judge Throws Out Baldoni's $400M Lawsuit Against Her and Reynolds
Justice system rejects Justin Baldoni's legal dispute against Blake Lively.
In a shocking turn of events, a New York judge has given Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds a massive win by dismissing actor Justin Baldoni's defamation lawsuit. The lawsuit, requested for a whopping $400 million, alleged that Lively and Reynolds, along with The New York Times, had defamed Baldoni over an article regarding the set of their project, "It Ends With Us."
Judge Lewis J. Liman ruled that the allegations were not substantial enough, and Lively's statements were protected under the law. Additionally, he dismissed other claims such as blackmail. However, a small point concerning "unjustified contract interference" remains open for potential revisions in a future lawsuit.
Triumph for Lively, Her Lawyers Comment
This decision marks a complete triumph for Blake Lively, according to her lawyers. They stated, "Today's decision is a complete victory and a complete vindication for Blake Lively, as well as all those Justin Baldoni and the Wayfarer parties dragged into this retaliatory lawsuit - including Ryan Reynolds, Leslie Sloane, and the 'New York Times.' We will next explore the recovery of legal fees and damages, including punitive damages, against Baldoni and the other parties involved."
Lively had initially filed a lawsuit against Baldoni in December 2024 for sexual harassment and retaliation on the set of "It Ends With Us." She accused Baldoni and the Wayfarer Studios team of launching a smear campaign following her complaint.
The New York Times and Fair Report Privilege
Interestingly, Baldoni also sued The New York Times for reporting on the case but was denied a defamation lawsuit yet again. The newspaper's reporting is protected by the so-called "Fair Report Privilege," which allows media outlets to report on ongoing or filed legal proceedings without fear of reputation damage.
Lively's Remaining Lawsuit against Baldoni
While the defamation lawsuit against Lively has been dismissed, her lawsuit against Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios remains active. The trial for the latter is set for March 2026. Whether Baldoni will decide to reassert his claims in a revised form by then remains to be seen.
A Grateful Lively on Instagram
Following the dismissal, Blake Lively took to Instagram to share an emotional message, expressing relief and gratitude for the support she received. She also reiterated her commitment to advocating for women's rights. As of now, Justin Baldoni has remained silent on the details of the court's decision.
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The Commission has also been consulted on the draft directive regarding the fair reporting privileges that media outlets enjoy in the entertainment industry, particularly in trials involving celebrities like Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni. In light of the recent dismissal of Baldoni's defamation lawsuit against Lively, discussions around the protection of entertainment personalities from crime-and-justice related slander are gaining traction in general-news.
