Justin Baldoni's lawyer says Blake Lively's ‘declaration of victory is false' after judge tosses $400 million lawsuit
Justin Baldoni's lawyer has issued a new statement after a federal judge tossed the actor-director's $400 million lawsuit against Blake Lively.
Baldoni was suing Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, their publicist, and The New York Times for defamation. In the lawsuit, Baldoni alleged they tried to destroy his career using false allegations of sexual harassment.
'Ms. Lively and her team's predictable declaration of victory is false, so let us be clear about the latest ruling. 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,' Baldoni's lawyer, Bryan Freedman, told TheWrap in a statement on Tuesday.
'This case is about false accusations of sexual harassment and retaliation and a nonexistent smear campaign, which Ms. Lively's own team conveniently describes as 'untraceable' because they cannot prove what never happened,' he continued. 'Most importantly, Ms. Lively's own claims 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.'
'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.'
New York federal Judge Lewis J. Liman decided to dismiss the lawsuit — which also included allegations of extortion — finding that Lively's accusations of sexual harassment were legally protected. The judge allowed Baldoni to amend and refile some of the actor's allegations regarding interference with contracts, imposing a deadline of June 23.
Lively and her legal team both spoke out shortly after the judge's ruling.
"Like so many others, I've felt the pain of a retaliatory lawsuit, including the manufactured shame that tries to break us," the It Ends With Us actor wrote June 9 on her Instagram Stories. "While the suit against me was defeated, so many don't have the resources to fight back."
Lively added 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.
Hours after the judge's ruling, Lively was seen at the Chanel Tribeca Festival Artists Dinner. She walked the red carpet in a white crochet dress, Christian Louboutin heels, and a Chanel bag, ring, and earrings. Lively draped a denim jacket over her shoulders and sported a big smile.
In a statement to The Independent, Lively's lawyers said, 'Today's opinion is a total victory and a complete vindication for Blake Lively, along with those that Justin Baldoni and the Wayfarer Parties dragged into their retaliatory lawsuit, including Ryan Reynolds, Leslie Sloane and The New York Times.'
'As we have said from day one, this '$400 million' lawsuit was a sham, and the Court saw right through it. We look forward to the next round, which is seeking attorneys' fees, treble damages and punitive damages against Baldoni, Sarowitz, Nathan, and the other Wayfarer Parties who perpetrated this abusive litigation.'
The legal battle between Baldoni and Lively stems from It Ends With Us, their 2024 film based on the TikTok sensation novel by Colleen Hoover. Lively played Lily Bloom in the film. Baldoni, who also directed the film, stars as Ryle Kincaid, her abusive partner.
Rumors of an on-set feud had been percolating online as the pair appeared to avoid each other during the film's promotional tour. Author Hoover also appeared to distance herself from Baldoni at the time.
Lively then filed a lawsuit in December 2024 alleging Baldoni sexually harassed her and exhibited behavior that caused her 'severe emotional distress.'
Lively nearly stopped working on the film, she claimed. However, she agreed to continue to work give a series of requirements that – according to the lawsuit cited by TMZ – included 'no more showing nude videos or images of women to Blake, no more mention of Baldoni's alleged previous 'pornography addiction,' no more discussions about sexual conquests in front of Blake and others, no further mentions of cast and crew's genitalia, no more inquiries about Blake's weight and no further mention of Blake's dead father.'
She also alleged that Baldoni was behind an alleged smear campaign designed to 'bury' her, which included fan backlash as part of a carefully orchestrated effort by Baldoni's PR team.
Baldoni's countersuit, filed in early 2025 just days after Lively's, was the one dismissed by the judge Monday.
The trial is scheduled for March 2026.
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