Justin Baldoni’s US$400-million lawsuit against Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds has hit a legal wall, with a federal judge dismissing the defamation and extortion claims on Monday. Judge Lewis J. Liman’s ruling found that Lively’s sexual harassment accusations were legally protected, making them exempt from Baldoni’s libel claims and marking a clear victory for Lively.
The judge’s order explicitly noted that Lively’s statements in her cross-complaint were privileged, which provided the legal basis for the dismissal of Baldoni’s defamation allegations. Furthermore, Baldoni’s claims of extortion, stemming from Lively allegedly seizing creative control, were also dismissed, as they did not meet the legal definition of extortion under California law. These dismissals address the core of Baldoni’s initial suit.
The dismissal also extended to The New York Times, which Baldoni had also sued for libel. The judge determined that the newspaper did not harbor serious doubts about the truth of the sexual misconduct allegations it reported, thereby affirming their protection under applicable defamation laws. This decision provides significant legal clarity for journalistic practices covering such sensitive topics.
Lively’s legal team expressed profound satisfaction, describing the dismissal as a “total victory and complete vindication” for Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds, and Leslie Sloane. They are now actively pursuing a claim for attorney’s fees, treble damages, and punitive damages against Baldoni and the Wayfarer Parties, asserting that the initial lawsuit was a “sham” and an “abusive litigation” designed to retaliate.