Justin Baldoni Responds to Blake Lively’s Motion to Dismiss $400M Lawsuit: “We Will Continue to Fight”
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Justin Baldoni has officially responded to Blake Lively’s request to dismiss his $400 million defamation lawsuit against her.
Baldoni filed the suit on January 16, following Lively’s earlier lawsuit that accused him of sexual harassment and orchestrating a retaliatory smear campaign during the making of It Ends with Us. The film, released in August 2024, starred both actors, with Baldoni also serving as director. His lawsuit also named Lively’s husband, Ryan Reynolds, as a co-defendant.
On March 20, Lively’s legal team—attorneys Mike Gottlieb and Esra Hudson—submitted a motion to dismiss, arguing that Baldoni’s claims were “vengeful and rambling,” and amounted to an abuse of the legal system. They also cited California Civil Code Section 47.1, which prohibits retaliatory lawsuits based on the public disclosure of sexual harassment.
On April 3, Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, filed a response in federal court in New York, asserting that Lively’s attempt to dismiss is an effort to avoid responsibility for her actions. Freedman stated that the complaint outlines Lively’s “calculated efforts” to manipulate Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios, to gain control over the film. When that failed, she allegedly attempted to defame them.
Freedman argued that the claims in the lawsuit are specific and detailed enough to withstand dismissal. He also contested Lively’s request for attorney’s fees and damages, insisting that even if the motion were granted, she wouldn’t be entitled to those compensations.
The response further accuses Lively of trying to shield herself from accountability under the guise of legal immunity. Freedman contends that to apply Section 47.1, the court would need to determine that Lively acted alone, without malice, and with a reasonable basis for her allegations—claims he disputes.
In a statement to PEOPLE, Freedman said:
“Ms. Lively and her circle of Hollywood elites cannot prevent my clients from exercising their constitutional right to petition the court to clear their names from her false and harmful claims. What Ms. Lively is attempting to do is to set a dangerous precedent by barring the courthouse doors to my clients and punishing them for having their day in court, a right protected by the First Amendment.”
He added:
“This right protects not only Mr. Baldoni and the Wayfarer parties in this case, but all Americans who are falsely accused and seek justice. This must stop here, and we will continue to fight against this blatant attempt to block access to the court system.”
PEOPLE has reached out to Blake Lively’s representatives for comment.
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