A federal judge has thrown out the explosive $400 million lawsuit filed by Justin Baldoni against It Ends With Us co-star Blake Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds, marking a devastating setback for the embattled actor-director. Baldoni had accused the Hollywood couple—and even The New York Times—of defamation, extortion, and career sabotage.
Now, those claims are off the table, and the judge isn’t mincing words.
Justin Baldoni in the film It Ends With Us – YouTube, Sony Pictures Entertainment
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On Monday, Judge Lewis J. Liman dismissed the entire lawsuit, finding that Lively’s accusations of sexual harassment were protected by law and could not be the basis for a defamation suit. The ruling also shredded Baldoni’s conspiracy allegations against The New York Times, calling the claims legally insufficient.
Still, Baldoni isn’t backing down. His attorney, Bryan Freedman, issued a fiery statement to Variety, insisting the legal fight is far from over.
“While the court dismissed the defamation-related claims, the court has invited us to amend four out of the seven claims against Ms. Lively,” Freedman said. “This case is about false accusations of sexual harassment and retaliation and a nonexistent smear campaign, which Ms. Lively’s own team conveniently describes as ‘untraceable’ because they cannot prove what never happened.”
Blake Lively in the trailer for Another Simple Favor – YouTube, Amazon Prime Video
Freedman also promised to take Lively’s deposition and praised the “Internet sleuth community” that continues to track the case.
Lively’s attorneys, however, aren’t sweating it. They issued a scathing rebuttal to the Baldoni lawsuit on Tuesday:
“No amount of spin, bluster, or creative accounting from Baldoni’s legal team will change the embarrassing reality staring them in the face,” said attorneys Esra Hudson and Mike Gottlieb. “The plan to sue Blake Lively and her family into oblivion has been a complete and total failure.”
Blake Lively in a Wedding Dress in Another Simple Favor – YouTube, Amazon Prime Video
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That failure now includes Baldoni’s attempt to rope in The New York Times. The court rejected his theory that the newspaper had “colluded” with Lively and Reynolds in a reputational takedown. According to Judge Liman, there simply wasn’t enough there to move forward.
Meanwhile, the legal spotlight is shifting. While Baldoni’s case falters, Blake Lively’s own lawsuit against Baldoni and his company, Wayfarer Studios, is moving ahead. In her federal complaint, Lively accuses Baldoni of sexual harassment and retaliation on the set of It Ends With Us, and alleges the existence of a coordinated effort to smear her once she spoke out.
That case is scheduled to go to trial in March 2026.
A Legal Spectacle With Hollywood Stakes
Baldoni had portrayed himself as the real victim in the aftermath of Lively’s accusations, claiming the alleged smear campaign destroyed his career and led to canceled deals. He and his legal team filed the $400 million suit in a bold—and now seemingly failed—attempt to turn the narrative.
Now, with the judge rejecting the defamation narrative outright and dismissing most of the claims, Baldoni is left to amend a few remaining contract-related lawsuit allegations. Whether those survive the next round of scrutiny remains to be seen.
Justin Baldoni in the film It Ends With Us – YouTube, Sony Pictures Entertainment
But one thing is clear: Baldoni’s aggressive legal maneuvering has not paid off. Instead of reclaiming his reputation, he may now face a counteroffensive—complete with a possible demand for legal fees, treble damages, and more.
In Hollywood, that kind of blowback can sting far worse than a flop at the box office.
Do you agree with the judge who threw out the Baldoni lawsuit? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
