A New York judge has dismissed Justin Baldoni’s $400 million defamation countersuit against co-star Blake Lively, dealing a significant blow to the actor and producer in the high-profile legal battle tied to the film It Ends With Us.
Judge Lewis J. Liman issued the ruling on Monday, rejecting Baldoni’s claims of defamation, extortion, and reputational sabotage. The suit was filed in response to Lively’s December 2024 legal complaint, which accused Baldoni of sexual harassment and retaliation during the filming of the adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel.
Baldoni’s countersuit also named Lively’s husband Ryan Reynolds, her publicist Leslie Sloane, and The New York Times. He alleged that Lively led a campaign to damage his name and interfere with the film’s release by threatening to pull promotional support unless demands were met.
However, Judge Liman found Baldoni’s arguments lacked a legal foundation. “The Wayfarer Parties have not alleged that Lively is responsible for any statements other than the statements in her lawsuit, which are privileged,” Liman wrote, also ruling that her conduct amounted to “legally permissible hard bargaining,” not extortion.
Regarding the $250 million suit against The New York Times, the judge said Baldoni had not demonstrated actual malice on the part of the publication. “The Times reviewed the available evidence and reported, perhaps in a dramatised manner, what it believed to have happened,” the opinion stated.
Lively’s legal team called the decision “a total victory and a complete vindication.” The statement added the dismissal extended to all defendants, including Reynolds, Sloane, and the Times.
Reacting on Instagram, Lively shared a message of support for others facing retaliatory lawsuits. “Like so many others, I’ve felt the pain of a retaliatory lawsuit,” she wrote. “While the suit against me was defeated, so many don’t have the resources to fight back.”
Despite the dismissal, Baldoni retains the right to amend and refile certain claims — specifically those concerning alleged interference with contractual agreements — by June 23.
His attorney, Bryan Freedman, stated in a June 10 interview that Baldoni is “waiting for his day in court, where he can speak out to tell the truth,” adding that the actor “wants to be vindicated.”
Freedman also claimed Lively is “afraid of the truth,” referring to her pending deposition this month as part of her original harassment complaint.
Although Lively recently dropped two emotional distress claims from her suit, the core allegations remain, with the trial scheduled for March 2026. The legal drama continues to cast a shadow over It Ends With Us, a film once expected to headline awards season.