Baldoni v. Lively: $400M Countersuit Dismissed
- A New York judge dismissed Justin Baldoni's $400 million defamation lawsuit against Blake Lively, his former co-star, marking a significant victory in the ongoing legal battle between the...
- Judge Lewis Liman rejected Baldoni's countersuit, which included allegations of extortion and defamation.
- Lively's initial lawsuit, filed in December 2024 against Baldoni's Wayfarer Studios, detailed allegations of sexual harassment on set and retaliation for reporting these complaints.
Blake Lively Wins Defamation Suit Against Justin Baldoni in ’It Ends With Us’ Dispute
A New York judge dismissed Justin Baldoni’s $400 million defamation lawsuit against Blake Lively, his former co-star, marking a significant victory in the ongoing legal battle between the two actors. The pair starred in the 2024 film “It ends With Us,” and their dispute has been brewing for months, with a trial initially anticipated next year.
Judge Lewis Liman rejected Baldoni’s countersuit, which included allegations of extortion and defamation. The legal action began after Lively filed a complaint accusing Baldoni of sexual harassment and initiating a smear campaign against her.
Lively’s initial lawsuit, filed in December 2024 against Baldoni’s Wayfarer Studios, detailed allegations of sexual harassment on set and retaliation for reporting these complaints. She also shared details in a New York Times article prior to filing the suit.
Baldoni’s defamation suit targeted Lively, her husband ryan Reynolds, their publicist, and the New York Times, claiming they aimed to damage his career and reputation. the lawsuit focused on Lively’s alleged threat to withhold promotion of “It ends With Us” and the claim that she promoted a false narrative of sexual assault and a smear campaign.
judge Liman stated that Baldoni and his company failed to adequately prove that Lively’s threats constituted wrongful extortion rather than permissible negotiation.He added that they did not sufficiently demonstrate defamation,as the statements attributed to Lively were primarily within her lawsuit and therefore privileged.
The judge also found no evidence that the New York Times acted with “actual malice” in publishing their story, dismissing the $250 million suit against the newspaper.According to Liman, the Times reviewed available evidence and reported what it believed to have occurred, without any apparent motive to favor Lively’s account.
“Like so many others, I’ve felt the pain of a retaliatory lawsuit, including the manufactured shame that tries to break us,” Lively said in an Instagram post.
Lively added that she is “more resolved than ever to continue to stand for every woman’s right to have a voice in protecting themselves.”
what’s next
Baldoni has until June 23 to amend and refile allegations related to interference with contracts, according to Judge Liman. This decision follows Lively’s request to withdraw claims of intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress from her original lawsuit, where she cited “severe emotional distress” due to the alleged harassment and smear campaign. The film “It Ends With Us” is an adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s novel, starring Lively as Lily Bloom, a woman mirroring her mother’s experience with domestic abuse.