In late 2024, actress Blake Lively filed suit against her It Ends With Us co-star and director Justin Baldoni, accusing him of sexual harassment, retaliation, breach of contract, invasion of privacy, emotional distress and lost wages. Lively’s complaint, lodged with the California Civil Rights Department in December, alleged that during production of the domestic-violence drama she was subjected to unwanted advances and a toxic working environment.
Baldoni, 41, vehemently denied the claims and in January fired back with a countersuit of his own, seeking A$615 million (approximately US $400 million) in defamation damages against Lively and her high-profile husband Ryan Reynolds, as well as their publicist Leslie Sloane. Baldoni’s camp argued that the harassment allegations were false and malicious, damaging his reputation and career.
Judge Lewis J. Liman’s Explosive Decision
On June 6, U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman issued a scathing order granting Lively’s motion to dismiss Baldoni’s defamation countersuit in its entirety. In his 35-page decision, Liman found that Baldoni’s complaint failed to plead any unprivileged false statements by Lively or her representatives outside the protected proceedings of her civil-rights complaint.
“Baldoni has not alleged that Lively is responsible for any statements other than the statements in her California Civil Rights Department complaint, which are privileged,” Liman wrote. “Accordingly, the defamation claims must be dismissed.”
Liman’s ruling dealt a heavy blow to Baldoni’s legal offensive, wiping out his damages claim—but it also left open two remaining causes of action: breach of implied covenant and tortious interference with contract, both of which the judge allowed Baldoni until June 23 to amend.
Baldoni’s New Legal Strategy: Pivoting to Defense
Rather than seek to replead the dismissed claims, Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, announced a wholesale shift in approach. In a statement to Page Six on Tuesday, Freedman made clear that Baldoni will not refile or amend the A$615 million countersuit but instead will devote his energies to defending against Lively’s original allegations.
“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,” Freedman said.
“Discovery is proceeding and we are confident that we will prevail against these factually baseless accusations.”
By abandoning the defamation claims, Baldoni avoids further motion practice over pleadings deficiencies and can focus on gathering evidence through discovery—depositions, document requests and witness testimony—that he hopes will exonerate him on the harassment, retaliation and other counts Lively has asserted.
Lively’s Camp Declares Victory
Blake Lively’s representatives wasted no time in touting the dismissal as a complete win. A spokesperson for Lively told Page Six:
“The Court dismissed the frivolous US $400 million Baldoni-Wayfarer lawsuit in its entirety. In the days that followed, Baldoni’s lawyer said the judge’s decision to dismiss their case was not a big deal as they promised to amend and refile it. As per usual, that was not true. The Court’s dismissal of Baldoni’s sham lawsuit was a total victory after all.”
Lively’s team views the retreat from the countersuit as tacit admission that the defamation claims lacked merit—and they intend to press forward with their own substantive allegations unencumbered by Baldoni’s once-ominous damage demand.
Impending Discovery Battles and Key Motions
With the defamation claims off the table, the focus will shift to pretrial discovery. Both sides now face competing document requests, subpoenas and depositions of Lively, Baldoni, Ryan Reynolds, cast-and-crew members, publicists and production personnel. High on Baldoni’s agenda will be to obtain internal communications—emails, texts and call logs—that he insists will show Lively’s allegations were baseless and politically motivated.
Conversely, Lively’s counsel will seek evidence of any behavior by Baldoni that corroborates her harassment narrative, including contemporaneous reports to human resources or notes by witnesses. Lively is also expected to file motions in limine to exclude any evidence of unrelated conduct and to preserve sensitive personal information.
Judge Liman Opens Access to Lively–Swift Texts
In a separate win for Baldoni, on June 18 Judge Liman granted his request to access private messages exchanged between Blake Lively and global pop star Taylor Swift. Baldoni’s team argued these texts—purportedly about the It Ends With Us shoot—could prove or disprove key elements of Lively’s claims of emotional distress and public statements. Liman found the request “reasonably tailored” for discovery, signaling his willingness to adjudicate nuanced privacy issues amid the litigation.
Industry Reaction: Riveting Hollywood Drama
Entertainment-law observers describe the Baldwin-Lively litigation as “must-see courtroom drama,” given the A-list personalities, blockbuster project and seven-figure stakes.
“Dropping that defamation counterclaim is a calculated gamble,” says Beverly Hills attorney Martin Singer. “It concedes a battleground but allows him to put all chips on disproving the harassment claims. If Baldoni emerges victorious in discovery and at trial, he’ll have undermined Lively’s credibility completely.”
Others caution that without an affirmative defamation claim, Baldoni forfeits leverage to compel a favorable settlement, as Lively no longer faces potential liability for false statements. “He may be on defense now,” notes media-law strategist Ellen Brown, “but if he can clear his name at trial, it could vindicate him more thoroughly.”
Public and Social-Media Response
Fans and onlookers have taken to social platforms to weigh in. On X, hashtags like #BaldoniDefense and #SupportBlake trend as partisans argue over who has the stronger position. TikTok users create dueling videos: one side dramatizing Lively’s version of the story, the other parodically defending Baldoni’s perspective. With discovery set to unearth internal messages, social buzz is certain to intensify.
Next Steps and Timeline
Under Judge Liman’s scheduling order, the parties must complete fact discovery by November 1, with expert designations due the following month. Summary-judgment motions could be filed in early 2026, aiming to resolve or narrow issues before a jury trial likely in mid-2026.
Key upcoming milestones include:
- June 23: Deadline to amend remaining claims (though Baldoni has indicated he won’t amend) or notify intent to pursue alternative legal options.
- August 1: Initial round of document production and deposition scheduling.
- November 1: Close of fact discovery.
- December: Expert-witness disclosures.
- January 2026: Deadline for summary-judgment motions.
- Spring 2026: Trial date—subject to the court’s calendar.
Both sides have signaled a desire to resolve the case swiftly, though a high-profile clash lasting many months appears likely. Settlement talks could surface once depositions reveal strengths and weaknesses in each camp’s evidence.
Conclusion: From Countersuit Threat to Defensive Posture
Justin Baldoni’s decision to abandon his ambitious A$615 million defamation countersuit marks a pivotal shift in this headline-grabbing dispute. By refocusing on his defense against Blake Lively’s harassment, retaliation and related claims, Baldoni streamlines the litigation and reallocates resources toward the most dangerous battlefield—he says the truth of the parties’ conduct on set in spring 2024.
For Blake Lively, the dismissal represents a strategic victory, removing the specter of a massive damage judgment and allowing her to prosecute her core allegations undistracted.
As both stars prepare for the grueling discovery process ahead, Hollywood will watch closely: Will Baldoni quash Lively’s claims outright? Can Lively avoid damaging concessions under cross-examination? And will either side find reason to settle before a blockbuster jury trial? In an industry built on image, few contests promise as much drama—and potentially profound consequences for careers and reputations—than Baldoni v. Lively.
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