Ryan reynolds‍ is asking ‌a judge to ⁤dismiss him from a $400 million defamation lawsuit filed​ by⁤ Justin Baldoni,arguing that Baldoni’s⁢ claims lack legal merit and amount to ⁣ hurting feelings.

According to⁤ court documents,Baldoni’s⁢ lawsuit against ⁤Reynolds and his wife,Blake Lively,centers on allegations that Reynolds called Baldoni a predator. Reynolds’ legal⁤ team argues that Baldoni’s complaint fails to demonstrate that⁢ Reynolds did not genuinely believe his statement to ‍be true.

Reynolds’ filing states, Mr. Reynolds creates genuinely, perhaps passionately,⁣ that the behavior of‍ Mr. Baldoni reflects the behavior of a ‘predator’, adding that calling someone ‘predator’ equals a constitutionally protected opinion.

Reynolds’ lawyers also contend that Baldoni’s susceptible outrage for a ‌film character – referring ​to the Nicepool character in Reynolds’ movie deadpool & Wolverine –⁢ does not even intend to be ‍linked to⁤ any legal​ claim ⁣ and that Baldoni is simply claiming injured feelings.

In the motion, Lively ‍and Reynolds’ lawyers state that while Lively has sued Baldoni and his business partners for sexual harassment and ​subsequent retaliation, Reynolds’ involvement is limited to that of a⁢ solidarity ‍spouse.

Reynolds’ lawyers assert that he is named in Baldoni’s lawsuit because Steve‍ Sarowitz, ​a defendant ⁢in⁤ Lively’s case against Baldoni and his team, allegedly promised to spend⁤ up to $100 million ⁢for ‘ruin’ to Mrs. Lively and Mr.⁤ Reynolds, according to court documents. Sarowitz is a business partner ​of Baldoni in Wayfarer Studios, which co-financed It Ends With⁤ Us with Sony.

baldoni’s lawsuit accuses Reynolds of assisting Lively in kidnapping his film it Ends ⁤With Us and attempting to end his career. The suit also claims Lively sought to control the film’s⁤ creative direction and that Reynolds, despite having no official role, secretly rewrote a scene and made unauthorized‌ changes to the script.

Baldoni further alleges that Reynolds reprimanded him at the⁢ couple’s New York⁣ home, accusing him of embarrassing his wife ‌for his weight. The lawsuit​ also claims reynolds mocked Baldoni in Deadpool ⁤& Wolverine by‌ imitating‍ the Nicepool character.

reynolds is also accused of telling a WME talent agency executive that‍ Baldoni was a sexual predator ⁢ in⁣ an effort to have ​the agency drop him as a client.

Lively⁣ and ‍Reynolds are ​reportedly WME’s ‌highest-earning clients. Baldoni was previously ⁣a client until the agency terminated him following​ Lively’s sexual‌ harassment complaint.

Reynolds’ lawyers, Mike Gottlieb and Esra Hudson, said in a statement ‌to CNN that Baldoni’s defamation case lacks‌ merit because ​Reynolds believes‌ Baldoni is, in fact,‍ a predator.

Mr. Reynolds ​is entitled, covered by the First Amendment, to express his opinion on Mr. Baldoni,​ which should be comforting for those who⁣ have repeatedly​ called mrs. Lively and Mr. Reynolds ‘abusers’ and other nicknames during the ‌last year,

Mike ⁣Gottlieb ‌and Esra Hudson, Reynolds’ lawyers

A Reynolds spokesman told CNN that Baldoni’s case is frivolous and added, We hope ‌that this demand ⁣will be‍ dismissed.

Lawyers for Baldoni and Lively have stated they have no intention of settling.

The trial is scheduled for march 2026. If Reynolds’ motion to dismiss is denied, the Hollywood star could ⁢be compelled to testify in the case.

Lively and‌ Baldoni have been engaged in a legal dispute as december, when Lively filed a sexual harassment and retaliation complaint with the California⁣ Civil Rights Department, followed⁢ by a lawsuit a week later.

Baldoni filed an amended complaint last month, alleging that other women have also reported Baldoni’s behavior on set.

These statements are completely false, scandalous and intentionally lascivious, with the ‌intention ‍of publicly hurting and repeating a⁢ media narrative,

Bryan Freedman, Baldoni’s lawyer, Heath and Wayfarer Studios

bryan Freedman, Baldoni’s lawyer, Heath and Wayfarer ⁢Studios, previously denied the⁤ accusations in a statement to CNN.