It ends here.
Justin Baldoni’s $400 million lawsuit against Blake Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, was tossed out on Monday in a shocking legal twist.
Judge Lewis J. Liman granted the motion to dismiss the actor’s January countersuit — as well as his $250 million libel lawsuit against the New York Times — according to documents obtained by Page Six.
Liman wrote that Baldoni and his Wayfarer Studios production company “have not alleged that Lively is responsible for any statements other than the statements in her [California Civil Rights Department] complaint, which are privileged.”
Lively, notably, made headlines for her complaint, in which she accused her “It Ends With Us” co-star of sexual harassment, in December 2024.
The judge explained that Baldoni’s lawsuit “alleged that Reynolds and [publicist Leslie] Sloane made additional statements accusing Baldoni of sexual misconduct and that the ‘Times’ made additional statements accusing the Wayfarer Parties of engaging in a smear campaign.”
However, Liman continued, “The Wayfarer Parties have not alleged that Reynolds, Sloane or the ‘Times’ would have seriously doubted these statements were true based on the information available to them, as is required for them to be liable for defamation under applicable law.”
Baldoni’s legal team has until June 23 to amend their claims for breach of implied covenant and tortious interference with contract.
Reps for Reynolds and Baldoni did not immediately respond to Page Six’s requests for comment.
Lively’s lawyers, Esra Hudson & Mike Gottlieb, celebrated the decision as a “total victory and a complete vindication” for the actress in a statement to Page Six.
The attorneys wrote, “As we have said from day one, this ‘$400 million’ lawsuit was a sham, and the Court saw right through it.
They are “look[ing] forward to the next round, which is seeking attorneys’ fees, treble damages and punitive damages” over the “abusive litigation.”
Lively and Baldoni sparked feud rumors when their project, which was adapted from Colleen Hoover’s book of the same name, premiered in August 2024.
Shortly after filing her complaint last year, Lively officially sued the “Jane the Virgin” alum for alleged sexual harassment, retaliation, breach of contract, infliction of emotional distress, invasion of privacy and lost wages.
Justin, who shares two children with wife Emily Baldoni, has continued to deny any wrongdoing.
News broke last week that Baldoni’s lawsuit was in jeopardy since it relied largely on a text from journalist James Vituscka claiming Lively’s publicist told him the “Gossip Girl” alum was “sexually assaulted” by Baldoni — which the reporter has since walked back.
“I meant to say, ‘sexually harassed,’” Vituscka wrote in a legal declaration Friday. “I regret this error.”
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-330-0226.
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