2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The South African
Judge dismisses Baldoni's R7.5 billion lawsuit against Blake Lively
A New York judge has thrown out Justin Baldoni's jaw-dropping R7.52 billion defamation lawsuit against Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds.
This dismissal handed Lively a decisive legal victory, sending shockwaves through Hollywood and beyond.
The ruling, delivered by Judge Lewis J. Liman on Monday, marks the latest dramatic twist in a bitter feud that has gripped the entertainment world.
Baldoni, best known for his role in Jane the Virgin , had accused Lively and Reynolds of orchestrating a plot to 'ruin' him and his career.
This was after a fallout on the set of It Ends With Us , a film they both starred in, according to Variety.
The lawsuit, which also targeted Lively's publicist and The New York Times , claimed that Lively's allegations of sexual harassment were false and part of a calculated smear campaign.
Judge Liman did not accept the claims. He ruled that Lively legally protected her accusations, which she first made in a formal complaint and later shared with the media.
'The claims were covered by litigation privilege, which means they can't be the basis for a defamation suit,' Liman ruled.
He also dismissed Baldoni's claims of extortion and other alleged wrongdoings, saying the evidence simply didn't stack up.
Lively's legal team celebrated the outcome. 'Today's ruling is a complete triumph and full vindication for Blake Lively.
It's also a victory for those whom Justin Baldoni and the Wayfarer Parties dragged into their retaliatory lawsuit, including Ryan Reynolds, Leslie Sloane and The New York Times ,' they declared.
'From the outset, we maintained that this 'R7.52 billion' lawsuit was a farce, and the Court recognised that.
We are eager for the next phase, which involves seeking attorneys' fees, triple damages, and punitive damages against Baldoni and others who engaged in this abusive litigation'.
Lively herself took to Instagram, thanking the 19 women's rights organisations that supported her.
'I stood proudly with 19 organisations defending women's rights to speak up for their safety,' she wrote. 'While the suit against me was defeated, so many don't have the resources to fight back'.
The legal fireworks are far from over. Lively is still suing Baldoni and his production company for sexual harassment and retaliation, with a trial set for March 2026.
Meanwhile, the judge has given Baldoni until 23 June to try again. He can amend and refile a couple of claims about interference with contracts, but the heart of his R7.52 billion case is dead in the water.
With both sides vowing to keep fighting, this blockbuster legal drama is far from its final act.
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