Justin Baldoni's $400M defamation lawsuit against Lively-Reynolds dismissed
What's the story
In a significant development, actor-director Justin Baldoni's $400 million extortion and defamation lawsuit against actors Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds has been officially dismissed. The dismissal was ordered by US District Judge Lewis Liman of the Southern District of New York on October 31 after Baldoni failed to meet a court-imposed deadline to amend his claims. This effectively ends Baldoni's legal claims against the parties involved, though Lively's separate lawsuit against Baldoni remains active.
Legal proceedings
Plaintiffs 'failed to respond' to the court order
The judge's ruling comes after Baldoni and his Wayfarer Studios co-plaintiffs missed their chance to revive the case. Judge Liman pointed out that the plaintiffs "failed to respond" to an October 17 order asking "why final judgment shouldn't be entered," leading the court to officially close the case. This dismissal follows an earlier decision in June when the court had dismissed Baldoni's complaint, citing a lack of merit in his defamation allegations.
Case background
Earlier ruling deemed Baldoni's statements 'protected'
The dismissal also comes after Judge Liman's June ruling that the statements cited in Baldoni's lawsuit were protected under litigation and reporting privileges, reported Complex. These statements were largely taken from Lively's sexual harassment complaint and a related New York Times story. Although the latest order dismisses Baldoni's defamation and extortion claims against Lively, Reynolds, and The New York Times, he can still appeal the judgment once the court decides on motions related to Lively's request for legal fees reimbursement.
Legal feud
The lawsuit stemmed from alleged on-set harassment
Baldoni initially filed his $400 million lawsuit in January 2025, calling it a "counterattack" in what has become one of Hollywood's infamous legal battles. Lively had sued Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios in December 2024, accusing him of sexual harassment and retaliation during the production of It Ends With Us. Lively's complaint alleged that Baldoni engaged in "disturbing" conduct on set, including an incident where he allegedly said to her, "It smells so good." Baldoni both headlined and directed the movie.
Legal proceedings
Lively's case against Baldoni is still active
Despite the dismissal of Baldoni's lawsuit, Lively's sexual harassment and retaliation case against him is still active in Manhattan federal court. Thus, the high-profile legal battle between the co-stars is far from over. In a statement earlier this year, a New York Times spokesperson said, "We are grateful to the court for seeing the lawsuit for what it was: a meritless attempt to stifle honest reporting."