Blake Lively has filed a motion to dismiss Justin Baldoni’s 400 million defamation lawsuit, calling it a vengeful legal attack meant to silence her allegations of sexual harassment. Lively claims Baldoni’s lawsuit is part of a larger effort to punish her for speaking out. The legal battle stems from Lively’s accusations against Baldoni during the filming of It Ends With Us, which led to a countersuit involving multiple parties, including her husband Ryan Reynolds and The New York Times.
Blake Lively’s Motion to Dismiss
Blake Lively’s legal team filed documents in a Manhattan federal court arguing that Baldoni’s defamation lawsuit is a “sinister campaign to bury and destroy” her for making harassment claims. Her lawyers emphasized that the law protects individuals from being sued for speaking about misconduct. They further asserted that Baldoni failed to prove that Lively acted with “actual malice,” meaning she did not knowingly make false statements. To support their argument, Lively’s attorneys cited Baldoni’s August 30, 2024, text messages in which he described Lively as someone who “genuinely believes she’s right.”
Justin Baldoni’s Countersuit
Justin Baldoni, along with his production company Wayfarer Studios, has countersued Lively, Ryan Reynolds, their publicist, and The New York Times. He alleges that Lively and Reynolds conspired to damage his reputation by orchestrating a smear campaign. According to court filings, Baldoni claims Lively’s negative portrayal of him was an attempt to “hijack” the film and deflect blame after her promotional efforts backfired.
Blake Lively’s attorneys, Michael Gottlieb and Esra Hudson, called Baldoni’s lawsuit a “profound abuse of the legal process.” They argued that his attempt to sue her into “oblivion” is legally baseless. Meanwhile, Reynolds has also sought dismissal, stating that Baldoni’s lawsuit stems from “hurt feelings” after Reynolds allegedly called him a “predator.” The New York Times has defended its reporting, denying any involvement in aiding Lively’s claims.
Also Read: Ryan Reynolds Requests To Be Dropped From Justin Baldoni’s Lawsuit In Blake Lively Case
With both sides standing firm, the lawsuit is expected to proceed through the courts. A trial date has been scheduled for March 2026, setting the stage for a highly publicized legal battle.