A judge has dismissed Justin Baldoni's $400 million lawsuit against Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds, and their publicist, marking a significant development in the legal battle that began with Lively's allegations of sexual harassment and retaliation against Baldoni. The lawsuit, which accused the couple of extortion and defamation, was thrown out by Judge Lewis J. Liman on Monday, June 9, 2025.
The legal saga originated in December 2024 when Lively filed a civil rights complaint against Baldoni, her co-star and director in the film "It Ends With Us," alleging sexual harassment and retaliation. Baldoni has consistently denied these accusations. In response to Lively's claims, Baldoni filed a $400 million lawsuit against Lively, Reynolds, and their publicist, Leslie Sloane, claiming that they attempted to damage his reputation and career. He further alleged that the couple tried to hijack his film by demanding creative control and threatening to publicly attack him if their demands were not met.
In addition to the lawsuit against Lively and Reynolds, Baldoni also filed a $250 million defamation lawsuit against The New York Times for their coverage of Lively's initial complaint. He claimed that the newspaper published an article filled with inaccuracies and misrepresentations based on Lively's "self-serving narrative." This lawsuit was also dismissed by Judge Liman.
Lively's legal team has hailed the dismissal of Baldoni's lawsuit as a "total victory and a complete vindication" for the actress and others involved. Attorneys Esra Hudson and Mike Gottlieb stated that the "$400 million lawsuit was a sham, and the Court saw right through it." Sources close to Lively have reported that the actress "cried with relief" upon hearing the news of the dismissal and feels vindicated by the judge's decision.
While Judge Liman dismissed the majority of Baldoni's claims, he did grant Baldoni the opportunity to amend some of the claims related to tortious interference with contract and breach of implied covenant by June 23, 2025. This allows Baldoni and his legal team to revise and resubmit certain aspects of their case.
The dismissal of Baldoni's lawsuit represents a significant turning point in the ongoing legal dispute. The initial trial is still set for March 2026, but it is unknown what effect this dismissal will have on the proceedings.
