Justin Baldoni Loses Legal Battle With Blake Lively as Lawsuits Get Dismissed

In a decisive legal blow, Justin Baldoni has lost his battle against Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds, and The New York Times, with all of his lawsuits being dismissed by a judge. The ruling, which came down on Monday, deals a major setback to Baldoni and his Wayfarer production company, as it marked the end of their $650 million defamation claims against the actress, her husband, and the newspaper.

The controversy began after a report from The New York Times covered behind-the-scenes drama surrounding the production of the film It Ends With Us. Baldoni and Wayfarer sued Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds, and the New York Times, claiming they had been the subject of a smear campaign that damaged their reputations. In their lawsuits, they sought a combined total of $650 million in damages—$400 million from Lively and Reynolds and $250 million from the newspaper.

Baldoni alleged that the Times had selectively used text messages and emails to paint him as a villain in the story. However, the judge ruled that The New York Times was justified in relying on Blake Lively’s civil rights complaint, which included the allegations at the center of the case. The judge emphasized that the newspaper’s reporting, while perhaps dramatized, was closely aligned with the information presented in Lively’s complaint and found no obvious bias or motive behind the Times’ coverage.

The court also dismissed the defamation claim against Reynolds, who had allegedly called Baldoni a “sexual predator.” The judge ruled that Reynolds’ comment was consistent with Lively’s claims in her complaint, and that the actor had no reason to believe the allegations were false. As a result, the judge determined that Reynolds’ statement could not form the basis for a defamation lawsuit.

Blake Lively’s legal team, including attorneys Esra Hudson and Mike Gottlieb, celebrated the ruling as a total victory, calling the lawsuit a “sham.” In a statement to TMZ, they said, “Today’s opinion is a total victory and a complete vindication for Blake Lively, along with those that Justin Baldoni and the Wayfarer Parties dragged into their retaliatory lawsuit… The Court saw right through it.” The team expressed relief at the dismissal, reinforcing their position that the legal action was an attempt to punish and intimidate their clients.

Meanwhile, The New York Times also released a statement in response to the court’s decision. A spokesperson expressed gratitude for the ruling, calling it a recognition of the importance of independent journalism. “We are grateful to the court for seeing the lawsuit against The New York Times for what it was: a meritless attempt to stifle honest reporting,” the statement read. The Times reiterated its commitment to defending press freedom and standing up for its journalists when their work is threatened.

Baldoni’s legal team, when approached for comment, declined to respond to the ruling. The dismissal of the lawsuit marks the end of a protracted legal battle, but it also raises questions about the broader implications of such high-profile defamation cases. For now, it is clear that the court sided with Lively, Reynolds, and the newspaper, marking a significant win for their defense against what many had seen as a retaliatory lawsuit.

With the lawsuits dismissed, the parties involved can now focus on moving forward, though the legal saga may still linger in the public’s eye, given the high-profile nature of the figures involved.