Justin Baldoni‘s whopping multi-million dollar lawsuit against Blake Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, has been dismissed after a judge found that Lively’s allegations of sexual assault were legally protected. But, it doesn’t end here, as Baldoni is able to amend and refile some allegations.
On Monday, New York judge Lewis Liman dismissed the $400 million ($613 million AUD) countersuit against Lively and Reynolds, in which the actor and director accused the couple of creating a smear campaign to extort him. However, Judge Liman asserted that Baldoni can’t sue Lively for defamation over claims made in her lawsuit, as they’re exempt from libel claims.
Judge Liman also threw out Baldoni’s $250 million ($383 million AUD) defamation claim against the New York Times, finding that it was reporting under the “fair report” privilege, and dismissed Baldoni’s claims that Lively took over the creative control of It Ends With Us, as that did not count as extortion under California law.
Baldoni’s lawsuit stems from the events on the set of the film It Ends With Us, which Baldoni both directed and starred in, alongside Lively.
“The Wayfarer parties have alleged that Reynolds and [publicist Leslie] Sloane made additional statements accusing Baldoni of sexual misconduct and that the Times made additional statements accusing the Wayfarer parties of engaging in a smear campaign,” Liman said, per The Guardian.
“But the Wayfarer Parties have not alleged that Reynolds, Sloane or the Times would have seriously doubted these statements were true based on the information available to them, as is required for them to be liable for defamation under applicable law.”
While the lawsuit has been dismissed, Judge Liman did assert that Baldoni and his legal team may file to revise the lawsuit if they’d like to file claims that Lively breached a contract. They have until June 23 to amend these claims.
In a joint statement, Lively’s lawyers, Michael Hottlieb and Esra Hudson, said the dismissal is a “total victory”.
“Today’s opinion is a total victory and a complete vindication for Blake Lively. As we have said from day one, this $400 million lawsuit was a sham,” the statement read.
Hottilieb and Hudson noted that they “look forward to the next round, which is seeking attorney’s feeds, trebel damages and punitive damages” against Baldoni and Wayfarer who “perpetrated this abusive litigation”.
According to insider sources, Lively “cried with relief” upon finding out the lawsuit had been dismissed.
“She’s obviously relieved. They both are,” a source told PEOPLE.
“She feels vindicated. Everyone is happy.”
Meanwhile, Baldoni or his team have not made a public statement about the lawsuit dismissal.
The It Ends With Us saga between Baldoni and Lively first began in August 2024, after the two stars of the film didn’t appear in any photos together at the premiere. After a press run filled with a hell of a lot of tension, Lively eventually filed a legal complaint in xx 2024, before officially suing Baldoni for sexual harassment, retaliation, breach of contract, emotional distress, invasion of privacy and lost wages.
Baldoni denied all allegations before following up with his own countersuit.
