Justin Baldoni's Defamation Suit Against Blake Lively and Others Dismissed: What Went Down?
Defendant denies accusations in defamation case - Lawyer's defamation claim is discarded by the judge
Kick back, let's dive into the drama
The legal feud between American actor-director Justin Baldoni (41) and his "Just One More Time" on-screen babe, Blake Lively (37), and her powerhouse hubby, Ryan Reynolds (48), has taken a wild turn! A New York court has kicked out Baldoni's $400 million defamation lawsuit against Lively and co. Reportedly, the judge, Lewis Liman, hung Baldoni out to dry, stating his lack of evidence to back up his claims.
Baldoni had brought the suit after Lively publicly alleged sexual harassment against him. Judge Liman had no issue tossing Lively's statements into the legal protection zone, making them untouchable. The judge also gave Baldoni a slap on the wrist, leaving room for him to (maybe) refile accusations about "unjustified contract interference."
For Blake Lively, this court ruling is a win, her legal eagles adding, "Today's verdict is an all-out victory for Blake Lively, plus a total vindication. We'll now scrutinize the likelihood of recovering legal fees and damages, including some hefty punitive damages, against Baldoni and the rest of the suspect squad."
Lively first fired up herlegal guns against Baldoni in December 2024, accusing him of sexual harassment on the set of "Just One More Time." She claimed that Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios retaliated against her complaints by stirring up a dirty smear campaign.
Legal Action against The New York Times Squashed
Not just Lively, Baldoni had also slapped a lawsuit on The New York Times for their reporting on the case. But, Judge Liman saw right through it, snuffing out the defamation suit. The reporting received protection from the "Fair Report Privilege," a legal shield that defends media outlets from defamation suits if they report on ongoing or pending legal proceedings.
The New York Times spoke up about the decision, "We're tickled pink that the court has recognized our lawsuit for what it truly is: a baseless attempt to conceal the truth. Our journalists have provided an important story with precision and fairness."
California Law to the Rescue
In Judge Liman's detailed ruling, he highlighted that Lively's original accusations against Baldoni were made within the context of an official complaint to the California Civil Rights Bureau. This places the accusations under the "Litigation Privilege," a legal norm that protects legal statements from defamation lawsuits.
Ryan Reynolds' private remarks branding Baldoni a "sexual predator," as well as Lively's PR agent, Leslie Sloane's public statements, also fall under this privilege, as they relied on Lively's account of events.
Trial Time for Lively's Charges: 2026
Lively's own lawsuit trial against Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios is set for March 2026. It remains to be seen whether Baldoni will have another crack at the accusations or if this tale of woe is finally behind him.
- Justin Baldoni
- Blake Lively
- Legal Battle
- Ryan Reynolds
- New York
- The New York Times
- Defamation Lawsuit
- High Stakes
- US Dollars
- Grudge Match
- In the world of entertainment and pop-culture, the legal battle between celebrities Justin Baldoni, Blake Lively, and Ryan Reynolds has intensified, as a defamation lawsuit filed by Baldoni against Lively and others was recently dismissed.
- Amidst the ongoing courtroom drama in New York, the New York Times, another key player in this high-stakes legal saga, has also seen its defamation suit against Baldoni squashed, as the court recognized the reporting as protected under the Fair Report Privilege.
