Justin Baldoni's $400 million defamation case against Blake Lively has been dismissed by a federal judge in New York. Judge Lewis Liman said Lively's complaint to the California Civil Rights Department about alleged sexual harassment during the making of the film "It Ends With Us" is protected by law.
Baldoni's $250 million lawsuit against the New York Times, which wrote an article on the issue, was also dismissed. According to the judge, there is no factual basis for the allegation that there is a conspiracy to publicly destroy Baldoni.
Lively's lawyer issued a statement, calling it a “complete victory” and a “clearance of name” for the actress. On the other hand, Baldoni's side did not immediately comment.
While her case was dismissed, Lively's own case against Baldoni continues. Trial is set for March 2026, with Lively seeking damages.
In the decision, the judge said that Baldoni's allegation that Lively, Ryan Reynolds (Lively's husband), and their publicist conspired to defame her was lacked evidence. In addition, the court also praised the New York Times' free press.
