Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds Move to Dismiss Justin Baldoni’s Defamation Lawsuit

Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds have taken legal action to dismiss a defamation lawsuit filed by Justin Baldoni. The couple’s attorneys informed a federal judge on Thursday that they intend to file a motion for dismissal.

Legal Battle Unfolds

The case stems from allegations made by Lively against Baldoni, her co-star and director in It Ends With Us. She claims he sexually harassed her on set and then launched a smear campaign after she spoke up. Baldoni denies the allegations and argues that Lively misrepresented their interactions by taking text messages out of context. He also accuses Lively and Reynolds of pressuring WME to drop him as a client, though WME denies this claim.

Court Proceedings and Motions

Judge Lewis Liman required the defendants to file a brief notice confirming their intent to seek dismissal. Their attorney, Michael J. Gottlieb, submitted the required statement on Thursday. The judge will later set a deadline for formally filing the motion.

Publicist Leslie Sloane, also named in Baldoni’s suit, submitted a similar notice on Wednesday.

The judge has scheduled a trial for March 2026 and has asked both parties to file a case management plan that would allow the trial to proceed on schedule.

Consolidating Federal Cases

In a rare moment of agreement, attorneys on both sides have indicated they do not oppose consolidating the two federal cases into a single proceeding. This could simplify the legal process and reduce redundancy in court filings.

Dispute Over Legal Representation

A key issue to be discussed in Monday’s hearing is the conduct of Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman. Lively’s legal team argues that Freedman’s public statements are prejudicing the jury pool. Freedman, however, insists that he has the right to publicly defend his client.

Baldoni’s attorneys have also pushed to depose Lively as soon as possible. However, Lively’s team has indicated that she will not allow Freedman to conduct the deposition, citing unspecified concerns over his past statements. Baldoni’s attorney Kevin Fritz has challenged this stance, arguing that Lively does not have the right to choose her opposing counsel’s legal representative.

What Happens Next?

Monday’s hearing will address multiple legal disputes, including:

• The motion to dismiss Baldoni’s defamation lawsuit.
• The role of Freedman in Lively’s deposition.
• The potential consolidation of federal cases.

With the trial still over a year away, these early rulings will shape the course of the case. The outcome could impact the reputations of all parties involved in this high-profile dispute.

More…

• https://variety.com/2025/film/news/blake-lively-ryan-reynolds-justin-baldoni-lawsuit-dismiss-1236291858 
• https://www.hindustantimes.com/htcity/cinema/blake-lively-and-ryan-reynolds-seek-to-dismiss-justin-baldoni-s-defamation-lawsuit-101738309655549.html
• https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/blake-lively-justin-baldoni-lawsuit-ryan-reynolds-b2689692.html