Blake Lively Moves to Dismiss Justin Baldoni’s $400M Lawsuit, Calls It ‘Baseless and Vengeful’

Blake Lively is pushing back against Justin Baldoni’s massive $400 million lawsuit, calling it a "vengeful" and baseless attempt to misuse the legal system. The It Ends With Us actress has officially filed a motion to dismiss the case.

According to reports, Lively submitted her motion on Thursday in the Southern District of New York, arguing that Baldoni's lawsuit is an abuse of federal court proceedings. She believes he is trying to punish her for speaking out about workplace harassment. As per Page Six, Lively stated, "The law prohibits weaponizing defamation lawsuits, like this one, to retaliate against individuals who have filed legal claims or have publicly spoken out about sexual harassment and retaliation."

Lively further stated that Baldoni’s lawsuit has no legal ground, asserting that her statements are protected under California law through litigation, fair report, and sexual harassment privileges. She also criticized Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios for demanding an enormous sum without clearly explaining any specific harm or damages caused by her statements.

Baldoni initiated the legal battle in January, naming not just Lively but also her husband Ryan Reynolds and her publicist Leslie Sloane in the case. He accused them of defamation and extortion, claiming that Lively’s allegations had severely harmed his career and reputation.

Lively had previously reported Baldoni to the California Civil Rights Department in December 2024, later filing a civil complaint. She accused him of inappropriate behavior, including making sexual remarks, walking into her trailer while she was breastfeeding, and creating a hostile work environment for multiple women on set. Her legal team, Mike Gottlieb and Esra Hudson, told Page Six, "California law now expressly prohibits suing victims who make the decision to speak out against sexual harassment or retaliation, whether in a lawsuit or the press."

Gottlieb and Hudson also stated that the lawsuit faces three major legal hurdles, including the litigation, fair report, and sexual harassment privileges. They added that billionaire Steve Sarowitz and Wayfarer Studios, who backed the lawsuit, may be required to pay damages for filing frivolous defamation claims against Lively.

A spokesperson for Lively emphasized that this case is not just about her but also about empowering others to speak out. Meanwhile, Ryan Reynolds has also moved to have the case dismissed.