Court dismisses Justin Baldoni’s $400 million defamation suit against Blake Lively; rules her harassment claims are legally protected

A judge on Monday threw out Justin Baldoni’s $400 million defamation lawsuit against Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds, ruling that Lively’s sexual harassment allegations are legally protected and cannot be challenged in court.

Judge Lewis J. Liman dismissed Justin Baldoni’s sweeping $400 million lawsuit — which included claims of defamation, extortion, and more — ruling most of it legally baseless. However, the court granted Baldoni permission to amend and refile limited claims related to alleged interference with contracts.


Blake Lively’s legal team celebrated the court’s decision, calling it “a total victory and a complete vindication” not just for Lively, but also for those named in what they described as a “retaliatory lawsuit,” including Ryan Reynolds, Leslie Sloane, and The New York Times. Labeling the $400 million suit a “sham,” the lawyers said the court “saw right through it.” They added that they now plan to pursue attorneys’ fees, treble damages, and punitive damages against Justin Baldoni, Wayfarer co-founders and other parties involved in the “abusive litigation.”

Blake Lively has filed a federal lawsuit against Justin Baldoni, accusing him of sexual harassment and retaliation. She alleges that Baldoni and the producers of It Ends With Us orchestrated a smear campaign against her after she raised concerns about working conditions on the film’s set.

Justin Baldoni filed a defamation lawsuit against The New York Times, Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds, and their publicist, claiming they conspired to ruin his career by spreading false allegations against him.

In his Monday ruling, Judge Lewis J Liman found that the original allegations—filed with the California Civil Rights Department and later shared with The New York Times—were protected under litigation privilege, a legal safeguard that shields such claims from defamation lawsuits.

Judge Liman also ruled that The New York Times was shielded by the “fair report” privilege, which protects media outlets from defamation claims when reporting accurately on legal proceedings.