Judge Dismisses Justin Baldoni's $400 Million Lawsuit Against Blake Lively

A U.S. District Court judge has dismissed actor Justin Baldoni's $400 million lawsuit against his "It Ends With Us" co-star Blake Lively. The legal dispute began after Lively accused Baldoni of sexual harassment and retaliation during the production of their 2024 film. In response, Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios, filed a countersuit alleging defamation and extortion.

Judge Lewis J. Liman ruled that Lively's allegations, made as part of a legal claim, are protected from defamation charges. He also determined that her alleged creative control over the film did not constitute extortion under California law. While the judge allowed Baldoni the option to refile the lawsuit under different legal claims, the current suit against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, publicist Leslie Sloane, and The New York Times was dismissed.

Lively's legal team hailed the ruling as a complete vindication and indicated they would seek legal costs and damages. The New York Times also welcomed the decision, defending its reporting on the matter. Despite the controversy, the film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s novel "It Ends With Us" performed strongly at the box office with a $50 million debut.