Lawyers for Blake Lively have described Justin Baldoni’s $400 million defamation lawsuit as part of a sinister campaign to bury and destroy. The actress for speaking out about sexual harassment and retaliation. On Thursday, March 20, Lively asked a US judge to dismiss the lawsuit, labelling it a “vengeful” attempt to weaponize the federal courts following her accusations against him.
Blake Lively Seeks To Dismiss Justin Baldoni’s Lawsuit
In a filing in Manhattan federal court, Blake Lively’s attorneys asserted that Justin Baldoni’s lawsuit seeks to undermine her right to speak out. They stated, “The law prohibits weaponizing defamation lawsuits” like Baldoni’s. Lively is also pursuing unspecified triple and punitive damages for the reputational and emotional harm allegedly inflicted upon her by Baldoni, his production company Wayfarer Studios, and other defendants.
Baldoni’s legal team did not immediately respond to requests for comment, and both actors have vehemently denied each other’s allegations.
What Is This $400 Defamation Lawsuit?
The conflict began publicly in December. Lively accused Baldoni of sexually harassing her during the filming of the 2024 movie It Ends With Us. Baldoni directed and co-starred in it and then attempted to tarnish her reputation. The legal battle commenced when Lively filed a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department. It was subsequently followed by her lawsuit in Manhattan.
In response, Baldoni and Wayfarer filed a countersuit for $400 million. It claimed that Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, their publicist, the New York Times, and others orchestrated a smear campaign to extort him. Baldoni alleged that Lively attempted to “hijack” the film. It deals with themes of domestic violence and blames him when her “disastrous” promotional approach resulted in online backlash. The Times was also sued over its December 21, 2024 article titled “We Can Bury Anyone: Inside a Hollywood Smear Machine”.
Blake Lively’s Team Mentions She Was Mistreated
In her motion to dismiss, Lively’s attorneys argued that California law prevents lawsuits like Baldoni’s. They are based on public discussions of sexual harassment, including in the media. They contended that Lively held a genuine, good-faith belief that she was mistreated. Her team emphasized that Baldoni failed to demonstrate that she acted with actual malice. Specifically mentioned that she knew her claims were false or had reckless disregard for their truth.
The alleged falsehoods, they argued, “centre on hair-splitting Ms Lively’s recounting of specific incidents within her legal complaints or, worse, attempt to justify the Wayfarer parties’ behaviour – essentially asserting that Ms Lively ‘asked for it.’”
Notably, Lively’s lawyers pointed to Baldoni’s August 30, 2024 text messages describing her as “the kind of person that genuinely believes she’s right and that all of this is unjust. To this, a publicist responded, “She fully does. I know it.” Lively’s attorneys, Michael Gottlieb and Esra Hudson, termed Baldoni’s lawsuit a profound abuse of the legal process. They asserted that its “attempt to sue Ms. Lively ‘into oblivion’ has only created more liability” for him. A trial is scheduled for March 2026.
Ryan Reynolds is also seeking dismissal from Baldoni’s lawsuit. He claimed it stems from “hurt feelings” over two instances when he allegedly referred to Baldoni as a “predator.” He also expressed that he “genuinely, perhaps passionately, believes” that Baldoni’s behaviour aligns with that of a predator. Also, his use of the term is constitutionally protected opinion.
Update On Times Legal Battle With Justin Baldoni
The Times has maintained that its article was purely journalistic and not an effort to aid Lively in seeking revenge. US District Judge Lewis Liman, who is overseeing both lawsuits, has suggested that Baldoni may struggle to succeed in his case against the Times.
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