Blake Lively is breathing a sigh of relief and sharing “love and gratitude” after a federal judge dismissed Justin Baldoni’s hefty $400 million lawsuit against her and husband Ryan Reynolds, per independent.co.uk. The ongoing legal spat, which has captivated fans for months, saw Judge Lewis J. Liman rule in Lively’s favour, upholding her claims of sexual harassment as legally protected.
Baldoni had accused Lively, Reynolds, their publicist, and The New York Times of defamation, alleging a calculated attempt to derail his career with false sexual harassment claims. However, Judge Liman found Lively’s accusations to be shielded, though he has given Baldoni until June 23 to amend and refile some allegations concerning contract interference.
Taking to Instagram, Lively expressed empathy for others facing similar battles. “Like so many others, I’ve felt the pain of a retaliatory lawsuit,” she wrote, vowing to “continue to stand for every woman’s right to have a voice in protecting themselves.”
Lively’s legal team hailed the decision as a “total victory and a complete vindication,” promising to pursue attorneys’ fees and damages against Baldoni and his associates for what they termed “abusive litigation.”
This legal drama stems from the pair’s 2024 film It Ends With Us, where Lively played Lily Bloom and Baldoni starred as her abusive partner and directed. Rumours of on-set tension preceded the lawsuit, with Lively filing her own suit in December 2024, alleging sexual harassment and a smear campaign orchestrated by Baldoni.
