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Justin Baldoni is recalibrating his legal approach after a federal judge dismissed his $400 million countersuit against Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds. Rather than filing amended claims by the court-mandated deadline of June 23, Baldoni's legal team has confirmed a shift in focus—moving away from pursuing revisions and instead exploring new legal avenues.
The development follows Judge Lewis J. Liman's ruling on June 9, which struck down Baldoni's original claims of defamation, extortion, and interference tied to the It Ends with Us film dispute. The judge also dismissed Baldoni's separate $250 million libel lawsuit against The New York Times for its reporting on Lively's December 2024 complaint. Though the court allowed Baldoni the opportunity to amend certain claims, including breach of implied covenant and tortious interference, he declined.
Bryan Freedman, Baldoni's attorney, asserted in a statement, "The Court's decision on the motion to dismiss has no effect whatsoever on the truth that there was no harassment nor any smear campaign, and it does not in any way affect our vigorous defense against Ms. Lively's claims." He added that Baldoni's team is "confident" in prevailing as discovery moves forward and emphasized they are now "pursuing additional legal options."
The legal friction began after Lively filed a formal complaint with the California Civil Rights Department in late 2024, accusing Baldoni of misconduct and launching a retaliatory campaign. Baldoni countered with sweeping financial claims, which Liman deemed insufficiently supported, noting in his opinion that Lively's original statements were "privileged" under law, shielding them from defamation charges.
Freedman has publicly criticized the dismissal as "not fair" and reiterated Baldoni's intent to clear his name. "He knows what he has and hasn't done," Freedman told TMZ. "He wants his day in court."
Lively's spokesperson responded pointedly, calling the outcome a "total victory" and branding the dropped lawsuit as "frivolous." The statement highlighted the inconsistency in Baldoni's strategy, noting that his team initially promised amendments but ultimately failed to deliver.
Tensions further escalated after Judge Liman denied Lively's motion to shield her private messages with Taylor Swift from disclosure. Baldoni's legal team contends those communications are relevant, given Swift's music featured in the It Ends with Us trailer, despite her having no formal production role.
The case, Lively v. Wayfarer Studios et al., remains on track for trial in March 2026, with both sides deep in discovery and preparing for what promises to be a high-profile courtroom showdown.
