Justin Baldoni filed a $400 million countersuit against Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds and The New York Times. He claimed the trio extorted him and spread false statements. The claim followed a defamation suit that Lively filed in December 2024. In her complaint, Lively said Baldoni behaved badly on the set of It Ends With Us and tried to ruin her reputation.
Judge Liman’s dismissal
In June, Judge Lewis J. Liman dismissed Baldoni’s case. He said a California law protects Lively’s sexual harassment claims, so they cannot be called defamatory. The judge also found that Baldoni did not show The New York Times had reason to doubt Lively’s statements. Because of this, the court denied any claim of intentional defamation.
Missed appeal deadline
After the dismissal, the court gave Baldoni a chance to file an amended complaint. The order required him to show just cause by October 17. Baldoni and his company Wayfarer Studios failed to meet that deadline. As a result, they lost the right to appeal the judge’s decision.
Consequences for Baldoni
Lively, Reynolds and The New York Times moved for a final judgment. Lively filed a letter asking the judge to grant the request and keep her claim for legal fees alive. The judge agreed and issued a final judgment in her favor. Baldoni now faces the loss of his $400 million countersuit and must pay any costs ordered by the court.
Ongoing legal battles
Even though Baldoni’s defamation case is over, other fights continue. In October, The New York Times sued Wayfarer Studios for the legal fees it spent defending the dismissed case. The outlet seeks reimbursement for those costs.
Later that month, Baldoni asked a New York court to dismiss a lawsuit from Harco National Insurance Company. Harco is the insurer for Wayfarer Studios on the It Ends With Us film. The insurer wants the court to say it does not have to cover Baldoni’s legal expenses.
Both matters remain unresolved. A trial for Lively’s original lawsuit is set for March 2026. Until then, the entertainment industry watches the fallout from this high‑profile dispute.
Source: The Wrap
