Justin Baldoni Slams Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds Over Legal Battle!
In a dramatic legal battle, It Ends With Us director Justin Baldoni is hitting back at Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds after the famous couple’s latest move in their ongoing lawsuit. Baldoni, who has been accused of sexual harassment and defamation by Lively, has denied all claims and is fighting back with a $400 million counter-lawsuit. The legal drama has now escalated, with Baldoni’s team branding Ryan Reynolds as a “co-conspirator” in a smear campaign against him.
Here’s what we know about the latest developments in this high-profile case.
Baldoni’s Counter-lawsuit: What’s at Stake?
The legal battle began in December 2024 when Blake Lively filed a lawsuit accusing Justin Baldoni of sexual harassment, along with allegations of a smear campaign against her. Baldoni has vehemently denied these accusations, claiming that the accusations were part of an effort to tarnish his reputation. In response to Lively’s lawsuit, Baldoni filed a $400 million defamation and extortion counter-lawsuit, insisting that Lively and her team were spreading false information.
Things took an even more dramatic turn in March 2025 when Ryan Reynolds entered the picture. The Deadpool actor filed a motion to dismiss Baldoni’s counter-lawsuit, claiming that the entire case was based on an alleged comment he made, where he reportedly called Baldoni a “predator.” Reynolds argued that calling Baldoni a predator wasn’t defamation if Reynolds genuinely believed the statement to be true. This legal strategy has now set the stage for an explosive legal face-off between the actors and Baldoni’s legal team.
Baldoni’s Response: Slamming Reynolds and Lively
In an official response filed on April 1, Baldoni’s legal team is pushing back hard against Reynolds’ motion to dismiss. Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, has slammed Reynolds, calling him a “key player” in a coordinated smear campaign that allegedly started against Baldoni and his team from the very beginning.
According to Baldoni’s legal filing, Reynolds’ attempt to downplay his involvement in the lawsuit—by portraying himself merely as a supportive spouse—was not accurate. Baldoni’s team claims that Reynolds, along with Lively, played an active role in “exaggerating benign interactions” to create a false narrative that Lively had been sexually harassed.
The filing further accuses the couple of leveraging the false narrative for their own gain, stating that they used the situation to “instill terror in the Wayfarer Parties and leverage it to accumulate power.”
Could Reynolds Be Dismissed from the Lawsuit?
Baldoni’s legal team argues that it’s highly unlikely that Reynolds will be dismissed from the lawsuit. If Reynolds were to somehow be removed from the case, Baldoni’s team insists that Reynolds should not be allowed to recover any attorney fees. The ongoing battle over legal fees and who is responsible for covering them only adds fuel to the fire in this already heated conflict.
Reynolds Responds: Defending Himself and Lively
On April 3, 2025, a spokesperson for Ryan Reynolds responded to Baldoni’s legal filing. The spokesperson stated that Baldoni and his team “finally realize the plain defects” in their complaint, and continued to argue that the lawsuit had no merit.
Reynolds’ team also criticized Baldoni for allegedly not specifying who was defamed, what was said, or how anyone had suffered harm. They pointed out that Baldoni, who built his career as a man “confident enough to listen” to women, was being challenged by Reynolds, who they claim genuinely supports his wife, Blake Lively, as she stands up against harassment and retaliation.
The spokesperson also emphasized that under New York, California, and other state laws, this lawsuit was destined to fail and could result in the Wayfarer Parties being responsible for covering Reynolds’ attorney costs due to the “frivolous” nature of the case.
What’s Next in the Legal Drama?
As the legal battle between Justin Baldoni, Blake Lively, and Ryan Reynolds continues, the stakes remain high. Baldoni’s team has pushed hard against Reynolds and Lively, accusing them of collaborating to damage his reputation. On the other hand, Reynolds has firmly defended his actions, stating that his support for his wife was justified and that Baldoni’s lawsuit was without merit.
With so much at stake, including significant financial damages, the legal showdown is far from over. Both sides are expected to continue firing back at each other with legal filings, public statements, and counter-arguments. Fans and the public will no doubt be watching closely as this legal drama unfolds in the coming months.
This ongoing case highlights the often messy and complex nature of Hollywood’s behind-the-scenes power struggles, especially when allegations of harassment and defamation are involved. Stay tuned as more developments emerge from this high-profile legal clash.
