NEWS OF THE WEEK: Blake Lively pulling 'emotional distress' claims from Justin Baldoni lawsuit
In December, the actress sued co-star Baldoni for alleged sexual harassment on the set of the drama It Ends with Us, which he also directed. Lively also claimed the 41-year-old orchestrated a smear campaign against her around the film's release in August 2024. Baldoni, who has denied the allegations, filed a countersuit for alleged defamation and civil extortion against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and others. On Monday, editors at Variety reported Lively, 37, is seeking to withdraw her claims of "intentional infliction of emotional distress" and "negligent infliction of emotional distress" from her lawsuit.
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17 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Justin Baldoni countersuit against Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds dismissed
(NewsNation) — Justin Baldoni's countersuit against 'It Ends With Us' co-star Blake Lively, her husband, Ryan Reynolds, and their publicist has been dropped by a judge, according to court documents. The judge also reportedly dropped Baldoni's $250 million lawsuit against The New York Times. Judge Lewis J. Liman granted a motion to drop the $400 million lawsuit, which alleged defamation and extortion by Lively and her husband. The judge said that Baldoni's team could amend part of the claims if they wanted, but they had to do so by June 23. Blake Lively withdraws emotional distress claims against Justin Baldoni Liman said that Baldoni's team had not alleged that Lively is responsible for any statements outside of her CRD complaint, which he said is privileged. The decision said, in part: '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. 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.' Diddy's legal team again asks for a mistrial Read the full document below: Credit: United States District Court – Southern District of New YorkDownload Lively recently withdrew some of the emotional distress claims she made against Baldoni, according to a court filing. Streaming services next steps: What are Mubi, Tubi and more? Lively's claims had led Baldoni's lawyers to request her medical information. This included therapy notes and information on her mental health providers. Liman wrote that Baldoni's motion to get Lively's medical information was denied 'based on (Lively's) representation that the relevant claims will be withdrawn.' Liman claimed that Lively didn't want to disclose information but wanted to keep her right to re-file her claims. However, the judge decided that Lively 'cannot have it both ways,' and he closed the claims. Lively's attorneys will now not be able to use evidence regarding her alleged emotional distress. Her lawyers said that Baldoni team's request of her medical information was a 'press stunt,' leading them to urge the court to sanction Baldoni's attorneys for allegedly abusing the docket. 'It is based on two brazenly false assertions. First, they claim that Ms. Lively has 'refused' to disclose medical and mental health information, but as counsel for the Wayfarer Parties concede, that information is relevant only to Ms. Lively's stand-alone tort-based emotional distress claims that she indicated she was withdrawing,' the Lively filing claimed. Lively originally brought the lawsuit against Baldoni for alleged sexual harassment. One insider told NewsNation's Paula Froelich in February that Lively and Reynolds 'have no idea what's coming down the pike.' Tony Awards laud android rom-com 'Maybe Happy Ending' and history-making 'Purpose' Another source said that no one wanted to work with Lively since the lawsuits. A trial for Lively's suit against Baldoni has been scheduled for March 2026. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
25 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Sly Stone death: Funk and soul legend of ‘Dance to the Music' fame dies aged 82
Sly Stone, the singer-songwriter who rose to fame with the band Sly and the Family Stone, has died. He was 82. 'After a prolonged battle with COPD [chronic obstructive pulmonary disease] and other underlying health issues, Sly passed away peacefully, surrounded by his three children, his closest friend and his extended family,' a statement from his family read, per Variety. 'While we mourn his absence, we take solace in knowing that his extraordinary musical legacy will continue to resonate and inspire for generations to come.' Stone's family also shared that he 'recently completed the screenplay for his life story, a project we are eager to share with the world in due course.' The group rose to fame with the 1969 smash hit 'Dance to the Music.' Stone, born Sylvester Stewart in Denton, Texas, was the second of five children. His parents, K.C. and Alpha Stewart, were both deeply religious and raised their children as such. Growing up, Stone, his brother Freddie, and two sisters, Loretta and Rose, formed the Stewart Four. Together, they performed gospel music and locally released the single, 'On the Battlefield.' Considered a child prodigy, Stone had mastered the keyboard at seven years old. By 11, he had become proficient at the guitar, bass, and drums as well. In 1966, Stone and Freddie, who had been performing in separate bands, Sly and the Stoners and Freddie & the Stone Souls, respectively, decided to merge the two groups, creating Sly and the Family Stone. With Stone as the lead singer, Freddie on guitar and vocals, their sister Rose on vocals and keyboard, Cynthia Robinson on trumpet, Greg Errico on drums, Jerry Martini on saxophone, and Larry Graham on bass, the band released their debut album, A Whole New Thing, in 1967. While the album was mildly received, it did feature their first hit single, 'Dance to the Music,' which they later included on their 1968 album of the same name.
Yahoo
25 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Blake Lively Speaks Out in Emotional Statement After Justin Baldoni Lawsuit Is 'Defeated': 'I've Felt the Pain'
Blake Lively shared a message on Instagram June 9 to speak out after Justin Baldoni's $400 million lawsuit against her was dismissed by a judge "I've felt the pain of a retaliatory lawsuit, including the manufactured shame that tries to break us," she wrote Her lawyers have called the judge's decision a "total victory and a complete vindication" for the actressBlake Lively is opening up about the "pain" she was caused by Justin Baldoni's countersuit, which she declares has been "defeated" with the judge's dismissal. "Like so many others, I've felt the pain of a retaliatory lawsuit, including the manufactured shame that tries to break us," the actress, 37, wrote on her Instagram Stories on Monday, June 9. "While the suit against me was defeated, so many don't have the resources to fight back." Lively added that she is now "more resolved than ever to continue to stand for every woman's right to have a voice in protecting themselves, including their safety, their integrity, their dignity and their story." "With love and gratitude for the many who stood by me, many of you I know. Many of you I don't. But I will never stop appreciating or advocating for you," she wrote. As part of the post, Lively shared a list of organizations for relevant resources and information: California Employment Lawyers Association; California Women's Law Center; CHILD USA; Coalition Against Trafficking in Women; Equal Rights Advocates; Esperanza United; Her Justice; Herunivercity Inc.; National Network to End Domestic Violence; National Organization for Women; National Organization for Women NYC; New York City Alliance Against Sexual Assault; New York Cyber Abuse Task Force; New York State Anti-Trafficking Coalition; Sanctuary for Families; Urban Resource Institute; Women's Equal Justice; and Women's Justice NOW. Among these organizations were groups and experts that recently filed amicus briefs in the ongoing case, sounding the alarm on what they called Baldoni's "attempt to dismantle a law designed to protect women who speak up," a spokesperson for Lively said in a previous statement. On June 9, Judge Lewis J. Liman granted motions to dismiss the $400 million lawsuit against Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds, which alleged extortion and defamation, plus Baldoni's $250 million defamation lawsuit against The New York Times. is now available in the Apple App Store! Download it now for the most binge-worthy celeb content, exclusive video clips, astrology updates and more! Her lawyers hailed the decision as a "total victory and a complete vindication" for the actress. In their statement after the dismissal news, Lively's attorneys Esra Hudson and Mike Gottlieb noted, "As we have said from day one, this '$400 million' lawsuit was a sham, and the Court saw right through it." They added that they "look forward to the next round, which is seeking attorneys' fees, treble damages and punitive damages" against Baldoni and the Wayfarer Parties, who "perpetrated this abusive litigation." Judge Liman noted in his June 9 filing that Baldoni's legal team can still amend the claims for breach of implied covenant and tortious interference with contract if they choose to move forward, with a deadline of June 23. Lively sued her It Ends With Us director-costar Baldoni, 41, plus others in December 2024, alleging sexual harassment and retaliation, which he has denied. She recently agreed to drop two of her claims against Baldoni — intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress — in a move her legal team described as a "routine part of the litigation process" for "streamlining and focusing" their case. In March, Freedman spoke out after Lively filed a motion to dismiss their countersuit, saying the actress' attempt to "dismiss herself from the self-concocted disaster she initiated is one of the most abhorrent examples of abusing our legal system." He added at the time, 'Stringent rules are put into place to protect the innocent and allow individuals to rightfully defend themselves. Laws are not meant to be twisted and curated by privileged elites to fit their own personal agenda." Their trial is set for March 2026. Read the original article on People
