Blake Lively opens up on emotional turmoil caused by Justin Baldoni's lawsuit, reacts to dismissal: ‘I've felt the pain'

Indian Express

17 hours ago

Actor Blake Lively responded after a judge dismissed a sweeping defamation and extortion lawsuit brought against her by filmmaker Justin Baldoni. In a post on Instagram Stories, the actor acknowledged the emotional toll of what she described as a retaliatory legal attack, and reaffirmed her commitment to defending women's rights. 'Last week, I stood proudly alongside 19 organisations united in defending women's rights to speak up for their safety,' Lively wrote. 'Like so many others, I've felt the pain of a retaliatory lawsuit, including the manufactured shame that tries to break us. While the suit against me was defeated, so many don't have the resources to fight back.'
She also added: 'I'm 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. There are protections out there. Check out some of the incredible organisations below for resources and information. 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.' Her post also included links to legal and advocacy groups such as the California Employment Lawyers Association, California Women's Law Center, CHILD USA, Coalition Against Trafficking in Women, and Equal Rights Advocates.
The statement came after a court decision on Monday that marked a significant legal defeat for Baldoni. A federal judge dismissed both his $650 million defamation lawsuit against The New York Times and a related countersuit against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and their publicist Leslie Sloane. Baldoni had accused the group of extortion and defamation connected to their public comments and media coverage regarding the 2024 film It Ends With Us. In his written opinion, Judge Lewis J Liman found that Baldoni's legal team had failed to meet the legal standard for defamation, specifically, proving that the defendants acted with 'actual malice' or knowingly spread falsehoods.
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'The Wayfarer Parties have not alleged that Lively is responsible for any statements other than the statements in her CRD complaint, which are privileged,' Judge Liman wrote in the court filing, obtained by PEOPLE. '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.' Attorneys for Lively, Esra Hudson and Mike Gottlieb, called the ruling a 'total victory and a complete vindication' not only for Lively, but also for Reynolds, Sloane, and The New York Times.
The lawsuit stemmed from internal disputes during the production and marketing of It Ends With Us, the 2024 film directed by Baldoni and starring Lively. Despite drawing mixed critical reviews, the film grossed over $351 million globally. In January 2025, Baldoni filed a $400 million suit accusing Lively and Reynolds of orchestrating a campaign to damage his reputation by alleging sexual harassment. He later expanded the suit to $650 million, adding The New York Times and others to the complaint.