Chicago – June 09, 2025
A federal judge has dismissed Justin Baldoni’s $400 million defamation lawsuit against Blake Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and The New York Times. The suit followed Lively’s sexual harassment allegations against Baldoni during the making of their 2024 film It Ends With Us, which Baldoni directed and co-starred in.
Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios, had claimed defamation and extortion in response to Lively’s complaint and a related New York Times article.
Judge Lewis J. Liman ruled that Baldoni failed to prove actual malice in Lively’s accusations and that statements made in her lawsuit are protected from defamation claims. The judge allowed Baldoni’s team to amend their complaint to pursue other claims, such as breach of contract.
Lively’s lawyers called the dismissal a “total victory” and said the lawsuit was baseless from the start. The legal battle between the former co-stars continues, with further developments expected.
