Actress Blake Lively has asked a US judge to dismiss Justin Baldoni’s $400 million defamation lawsuit, calling it a “vengeful” attempt to silence her after she accused him of sexual harassment.
Lively’s lawyers claim that Baldoni is using the lawsuit as part of a “sinister campaign” to destroy her reputation for speaking out about sexual harassment. They argue that the law prohibits “weaponizing” defamation lawsuits in this way, and that Lively has the right to speak out without fear of reprisal.
Lively is seeking unspecified triple and punitive damages for reputational and emotional harm caused by Baldoni, his production company Wayfarer Studios, and other defendants. The lawsuit was countersued by Baldoni and Wayfarer, who accuse Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and others of orchestrating a smear campaign to extort them.
The feud began in December when Lively accused Baldoni of sexually harassing her on the set of their movie “It Ends With Us”, in which he co-starred and directed. He has denied the allegations, but Lively’s lawyers argue that his lawsuit is an attempt to discredit her claims.
A US District Judge Lewis Liman in Manhattan has scheduled a March 2026 trial for both lawsuits. The case is expected to be closely watched, as it highlights the complexities of defamation laws and the challenges faced by women who speak out about sexual harassment.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/legal/blake-lively-seeks-dismissal-justin-baldonis-400-million-defamation-lawsuit-2025-03-20