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The ongoing legal battle between Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds, and Justin Baldoni continues to escalate as Lively and Reynolds have officially filed notice to seek dismissal of Baldoni’s $400 million defamation and extortion lawsuit against them. The high-profile case stems from allegations of misconduct and retaliation on the set of the film “It Ends With Us.”
Background of the Case
- Blake Lively’s Allegations: On December 20, 2024, Lively filed a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department, accusing Baldoni of sexual harassment during the filming of It Ends With Us. She claimed that Baldoni made sexually suggestive comments and behaved inappropriately, causing her emotional distress and professional harm. Lively also alleged that Baldoni retaliated by launching a smear campaign to damage her reputation.
- Justin Baldoni’s Response: Baldoni vehemently denied Lively’s claims and responded by filing a $400 million defamation and extortion lawsuit against her, Reynolds, and her publicist, Leslie Sloane. He also filed a $250 million libel lawsuit against The New York Times for publishing Lively’s allegations. Baldoni accused Lively of overstepping her role by rewriting parts of the script and interfering in the production process.
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Lively and the “Deadpool” actor complied with Judge Lewis Liman’s request for a letter that would “indicate in one sentence the Defendant’s intent to make a motion to dismiss.” GC Images
Lively and Reynolds Move for Dismissal
On Thursday, Lively and Reynolds filed notice of their intent to dismiss Baldoni’s lawsuit with their lawyer, Michael J. Gottlieb, stating:
“The Lively-Reynolds Parties intend to move to dismiss Plaintiffs’ complaint.”
The filing comes after Judge Lewis Liman requested a written notice from the defendants indicating their intent to file a motion to dismiss. While the specific deadline to file the motion has not yet been set, the couple’s legal team has made their position clear.
Additional Legal Developments
- Leslie Sloane, Lively’s publicist, who was also named in Baldoni’s lawsuit, filed a similar notice to dismiss the claims against her on Wednesday.
- Baldoni’s team released raw footage from It Ends With Us in an attempt to refute Lively’s allegations, but her legal team has described the footage as “damning,” arguing it corroborates her claims of inappropriate behavior.
- Lively has further filed a lawsuit against Baldoni for sexual harassment, retaliation, invasion of privacy, and breach of contract, among other claims.
Scheduled Hearings and Trial Date
- The first court hearing is scheduled for Monday, where attorneys will discuss Baldoni’s lawyer Bryan Freedman and his alleged “extrajudicial conduct.” Lively’s team argues that Freedman’s comments to the press could potentially “taint the jury pool.”
- A trial date has been set for March 2026, leaving more than a year for pre-trial motions and further developments in what is shaping up to be one of the most contentious Hollywood legal battles in recent years.
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The 37-year-old has claimed that Baldoni made sexually suggestive remarks to her; however, he has denied her claims.NancyUS figure skaters, Russian championship couple killed in DC plane crash with military helicopter Rivera / SplashNews.com A trial date has been set for March 2026 with the first court hearing scheduled for Monday.GC Images
Conclusion
The lawsuit between Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds, and Justin Baldoni has brought serious allegations and high-stakes legal maneuvers into the spotlight. With both sides standing firm and additional evidence, such as raw footage, being introduced, the case is expected to remain a major topic in both the entertainment and legal worlds. The upcoming hearing on Monday will likely set the tone for how this high-profile battle unfolds.
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