Justin Baldoni’s $400 million defamation suit against Blake Lively dismissed by judge

A judge has thrown out Justin Baldoni‘s $400 million defamation claim against Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds.

The legal battle between the two kicked off last December, when Lively filed a sexual harassment and retaliation complaint with the California Civil Rights Department against Baldoni. In the filing, she accused the It Ends With Us director of “inappropriate and unwelcome behaviour” and claimed he was trying to “destroy” her reputation.

Baldoni has denied all accusations and countersued on January 16, including Lively’s husband Ryan Reynolds and publicist Leslie Sloane in the suit. He attempted to sue them for $400million (£295million) and claims that the actress tried to extort him. In the aftermath of Lively’s suit, Baldoni was dropped by his talent agency William Morris Endeavor (WME) and also had a women’s solidarity award rescinded.

Earlier today (June 9), judge Lewis J. Liman dismissed Baldoni’s entire lawsuit, which was filed in California, on the grounds that her accusations of sexual harassment were legally protected and therefore immune from suit. However, Liman has allowed Baldoni to amend and refile a couple of allegations relating to interference with contracts.

“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,” Lively’s lawyers said in a statement. “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.”

Liman found that the initial claims were covered by the litigation privilege, which prevents legal claims from being the subject of defamation actions. The New York Times’ reporting on the claims was also protected under the “fair report” privilege, which allows media outlets to cover legal proceedings without becoming liable for defamation.

Meanwhile, Reynolds was named in the suit, accused of defaming Baldoni by calling him a “sexual predator”. The judge found that Reynolds was relying on Lively’s account of events, which he had no reason to doubt. For the same reasoning, Leslie Sloane, Lively’s publicist, did not defame Baldoni in her dealings with the Daily Mail.

Liman was the same judge who dismissed Lively’s claims of emotional distress. As a result, Lively can either reach an agreement with Baldoni and dismiss claims of emotional distress with prejudice – meaning she cannot refile them – or ask the court to dismiss the claims without an agreement. By opting for the latter, she stands a chance of having the court dismissing the claims without prejudice.

Regardless of the decision her legal team takes, Lively’s attorneys can no longer present evidence of her alleged emotional distress.

Last month it was revealed that Taylor Swift – who is close friends with Blake Lively – had been issued a subpoena by Justin Baldoni’s legal team. He claimed that ​​Lively invited him to her New York City residence to talk over possible script changes, and he was pressured by Swift and Reynolds to accept the revisions.

The subpoena of Swift was later dropped by Baldoni’s legal team and, speaking about the decision, Lively’s representatives said: “We are pleased that Justin Baldoni and the Wayfarer Parties have withdrawn their harassing subpoenas to Taylor Swift and her law firm.

“We supported the efforts of Taylor’s team to quash these inappropriate subpoenas directed to her counsel and we will continue to stand up for any third party who is unjustly harassed or threatened in the process.”

A trial on Lively’s complaint against Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios is set for March 2026.

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