How Justin Baldoni feels after $600m countersuit against Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds dismissed
Justin Baldoni's team remains confident despite a judge dismissing the actor's $400 million countersuit against his It Ends With Us co-star Blake Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds.
'Ms. Lively and her team's predictable declaration of victory is false, so let us be clear about the latest ruling,' the actor's lawyer, Bryan Freedman, told Page Six in a statement on Tuesday.
'While the Court dismissed the defamation related claims, the Court has invited us to amend four out of the seven claims against Ms. Lively, which will showcase additional evidence and refined allegations,' he continued.
'This case is about false accusations of sexual harassment and retaliation and a non-existent smear campaign, which Ms. Lively's own team conveniently describes as 'untraceable' because they cannot prove what never happened.'
Freedman also claimed that Lively's allegations are 'no truer today than they were yesterday.'
'And with the facts on our side, we march forward with the same confidence that we had when Ms. Lively and her cohorts initiated this battle and look forward to her forthcoming deposition, which I will be taking,' he said. 'We are grateful for the organic show of support from the public and for the dedication of the internet sleuth community who continue to cover the case with discernment and integrity.'
A Baldoni insider echoed Freedman's optimism, telling the Daily Mail on Monday, 'Even though it is a stumble, Justin still has full trust with his legal team.
'He is looking to figure out how to move forward from this current setback,' the source continued.
While he feels confident that his lawyers will pull through, the Jane the Virgin alum, 41, sees things as 'a tale of two worlds right now.'
'Justin feels this is a huge kick to the guts,' the source admitted.
On Monday, Judge Lewis J. Liman granted the motion to dismiss the actor's January countersuit, along with his $250 million (A$380 million) libel lawsuit against the New York Times, according to documents obtained by Page Six.
The judge wrote that Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios, 'have not alleged that Lively is responsible for any statements other than the statements in her [California Civil Rights Department] complaint, which are privileged.'
Liman said that Baldoni's complaint '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.'
'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,' he continued.
Baldoni's lawyers have until June 23 to amend their claims for breach of implied covenant.
Lively's legal team, Esra Hudson & Mike Gottlieb, called the move a 'total victory and a complete vindication' in a statement to Page Six.
'As we have said from day one, this '$400 million' (A$600 million) lawsuit was a sham, and the Court saw right through it,' the statement said.
The Gossip Girl alum, 37, was seen celebrating the news at the Chanel Tribeca Festival Artists Dinner in New York City on Monday night.
In August 2024, feud rumours swirled for Baldoni and Lively after their project, a film adaptation of Colleen Hoover's book of the same name, premiered in New York City.
Lively went on to sue the movie's director for sexual harassment, retaliation, breach of contract, infliction of emotional distress, invasion of privacy and lost wages three months later.
Baldoni denied any wrongdoing and hit back with his $400 million countersuit, accusing Lively and Reynolds of defamation, as well as a lawsuit accusing the New York Times (the first outlet to report on the actress' lawsuit) of libel.
He has also accused Lively of bulldozing him throughout the movie project and taking over his directorial duties.
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