Judge Dismisses Justin Baldoni’s $400M Countersuit Against Blake Lively & Ryan Reynolds

June 9, 2025: A federal judge has thrown out Justin Baldoni’s $400 million countersuit against Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds, their publicist Leslie Sloane, and The New York Times. The dismissal marks a major setback for Baldoni in his legal saga following allegations made by Lively in December 2024.

What the Ruling Says

On June 9, 2025, U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman granted motions to dismiss Baldoni’s lawsuit, determining that statements made by Lively were legally privileged and those by Reynolds, Sloane, and the Times failed to meet the defamation threshold—no evidence showed they doubted the truth of what they said.

Allowed Revisions

The judge did note Baldoni’s team may refile narrower claims, suggesting possible new angles on breach of implied covenant and tortious interference with contract .

Lively’s Emotional Distress Claims Withdrawn

Meanwhile, Blake Lively recently withdrew two emotional distress claims from her lawsuit. Her legal team said this streamlining is a strategic decision and does not undermine her core allegations of sexual harassment and retaliation.

What Comes Next

Baldoni may amend and refile select claims focusing on contract or business interference.

Lively’s broader case remains active, now centered on sexual harassment and reputational harm, with trial set for March 9, 2026.

The New York Times’ related $250 million lawsuit was also dismissed under the same privileged-communication ruling .

Why This Matters

This ruling highlights how legal privileges protect victims who file complaints, making it tougher to pursue defamation claims over those statements. Lively’s team described their withdrawal of emotional distress claims as standard litigation procedure—unrelated to the substance of their allegations. Conversely, Baldoni’s legal team accuses Lively of manipulating public narrative by removing sensitive medical information.