Blake Lively Seeks To Set Aside Justin Baldoni’s Defamation Lawsuit, Arguing California Law Protects Sexual Harassment Accusers

Following a series of legal disputes, Blake Lively has filed a motion in federal court to dismiss a defamation lawsuit filed against her by actor and director Justin Baldoni.

The actress is asking a U.S. judge to dismiss the case, claiming it is a “vengeful” attempt to silence her after she accused Baldoni of sexual harassment during the filming of ‘It Ends With Us’ in 2024.

What Lively’s Legal Team Responds?

In a court filing submitted on Thursday in Manhattan, Lively’s legal team argued that Baldoni’s lawsuit is part of a “sinister campaign” aimed at silencing her. They contend that Baldoni is misusing defamation laws to intimidate her into withdrawing her allegations. In addition to seeking the dismissal of the case, Lively is requesting triple and punitive damages for the harm caused to her reputation and emotional well-being by Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios.

Beginning Of The Conflict

The public conflict between Lively and Baldoni began in December 2024, when Lively accused Baldoni of sexual harassment while working together on the movie It Ends With Us, a film that Baldoni both starred in and directed. In response to these allegations, Lively filed a sexual harassment complaint with the California Civil Rights Department. She later followed up with a lawsuit in Manhattan federal court.

In retaliation, Baldoni countersued for $400 million, accusing Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, their publicist, and others of orchestrating a smear campaign against him. Baldoni claims that Lively’s accusations caused significant online backlash against the movie, ultimately leading to difficulties in promoting the film. He believes that her actions unfairly damaged the project.

Legal Arguments & Defenses

Lively’s legal team has argued that California law protects public discussions of sexual harassment, and that Baldoni has failed to prove her accusations were made with malicious intent. Her attorneys further emphasize that Lively acted in good faith, believing she had been mistreated during filming. They also argue that Baldoni’s defamation claim is based on minor details in her legal complaint, rather than on factual inaccuracies.

The case has drawn additional attention because Ryan Reynolds, Lively’s husband, is also involved. Reynolds has supported his wife’s position, asking for Baldoni’s lawsuit to be dismissed as well. He argues that the defamation claim stems from “hurt feelings” and asserts that calling Baldoni a “predator” falls within his constitutional right to express protected opinions.

The trial is scheduled to take place in March 2026, and both Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds continue to push for the case to be thrown out. With both sides preparing for a lengthy legal battle, the outcome of this high-profile case will have significant implications for public discourse on sexual harassment and the use of defamation lawsuits in the entertainment industry.