Joshua Goldman
Joshua Goldman
min read · June 9, 2025 · Entertainment

Blake Lively's Emotional Victory: Baldoni’s $400M Suit Thrown Out

Blake Lively's emotional response to Justin Baldoni's $400million countersuit against her being dismissed has been revealed - she is pictured in their film, It Ends With Us

BLAKE LIVELY GETS VINDICATION: Actor's $400 Million Lawsuit Against Her DISMISSED

In a bombshell victory, actress Blake Lively has emerged victorious as a judge dismissed Justin Baldoni's whopping $400 million countersuit against her. The news comes just days after the release of Lively's powerful statement on Instagram, where she vowed to continue standing up for women's rights and speaking out against harassment.

The drama began in December 2024 when Lively filed a lawsuit against Baldoni, accusing him of sexually harassing her on set during the filming of their romantic drama, It Ends With Us. The allegations sent shockwaves through Tinseltown, with many of Lively's fans rallying around her in support.

In December 2024, the actress sued Baldoni for allegedly sexually harassing her on set - claims he denied - before Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios fired back with a defamation suit against Lively, her publicist Leslie Sloane and husband Ryan Reynolds - pictured 2023

But Baldoni and his team didn't take the accusations lying down. They fired back with a defamation suit against Lively, her publicist Leslie Sloane, and her husband Ryan Reynolds, alleging that they had engaged in a smear campaign to destroy Baldoni's reputation.

The battle between the two stars continued to escalate, with Baldoni even launching a $250 million lawsuit against The New York Times over its bombshell expose on Lively's allegations. But it seems that the tide has finally turned in Lively's favor, as Judge Lewis J Liman dismissed Baldoni's countersuit on the basis of privilege.

According to court documents obtained by thescholarlynote.com, Liman ruled that Lively's allegations were made within privileged court papers and therefore could not be used as evidence against her. The judge also noted that Baldoni failed to allege facts that showed Reynolds and Sloane had acted with actual malice or reckless disregard for the truth when they spoke out in support of Lively.

A Lively insider said the star 'cried with relief' when she found out about the ruling. The drama between Lively and Baldoni officially erupted late last year; Lively and Baldoni seen in a still

Lively's team is celebrating the victory, with a statement obtained by thescholarlynote.com reading: "Today's opinion is a total victory and a complete vindication for Blake Lively, along with those that Justin Baldoni and the Wayfarer Parties dragged into their retaliatory lawsuit. As we have said from day one, this '$400 million' lawsuit was a sham, and the Court saw right through it."

But the drama isn't over yet. Liman also gave Baldoni's team permission to file a second amended complaint by June 23, 2025, although they will only be able to amend the allegations relevant to the claims of tortious interference with contract and breach of implied covenant.

Lively has been open about her experiences with harassment and retaliation in the industry, using her platform to speak out against abuse and support other victims. In her Instagram statement, she wrote: "Like so many others, I've felt the pain of a retaliatory lawsuit, including the manufactured shame that tries to break us."

On Monday, the actress released a powerful statement on Instagram, hours after a judge dismissed Baldoni's case, speaking out on the 'pain' of her experience with a 'retaliatory lawsuit'

She went on to vow that she would continue to stand up for women's rights and defend those who have been silenced by harassment and abuse. "While the suit against me was defeated, so many don't have the resources to fight back," Lively wrote. "I am more resolved than ever to continue to stand for every woman's right to have a voice in protecting themselves, including their safety, their integrity, their dignity, and their story."

The support for Lively has been overwhelming, with fans and fellow celebrities alike rallying around her on social media. But not everyone is happy about the outcome. Baldoni's team has released a statement saying that they are "disappointed" by the decision, but refused to comment further.

The scandal has also had a ripple effect on the film industry, with many calling for greater accountability and support for victims of harassment and abuse. It remains to be seen how this drama will play out in the coming months, but one thing is clear: Blake Lively has emerged victorious and is ready to keep speaking truth to power.

Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds, pictured April

A LIST OF GROUPS THAT HAVE PUBLICLY SUPPORTED BLAKE LIVELY

  • California Employment Lawyers Association
  • California Women's Law Center
  • CHILD USA
  • Coalition Against Trafficking in Women
  • Equal Rights Advocates
  • Esperanza United
  • Her Justice
  • Herunivercity Inc.

A TIMELINE OF THE DRAMA BETWEEN BLAKE LIVELY AND JUSTIN BALDONI

Baldoni's team has released a website which includes private communications such as text messages that were included in court filings detailing his interactions with the Hollywood power couple over the making of romantic drama

  • December 2024: Blake Lively files a lawsuit against Justin Baldoni, accusing him of sexually harassing her on set during the filming of It Ends With Us.
  • December 21, 2024: The New York Times publishes an expose on Lively's allegations, sparking a wave of support from fans and fellow celebrities alike.
  • December 31, 2024: Lively files a federal lawsuit against Baldoni, alleging that he had engaged in a smear campaign to destroy her reputation.
  • January 2025: Baldoni launches a $250 million lawsuit against The New York Times over its expose on Lively's allegations.
  • June 3, 2025: DailyMail.com reveals that Lively has dropped a claim of intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress against Baldoni.

A LOOK AT BLAKE LIVELY'S CAREER

Blake Lively broke out with her role in the 2005 film The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, opposite Amber Tamblyn, Alexis Bledel, and America Ferrera. She went on to star in TV shows like Gossip Girl, playing lead character Serena van der Woodsen from 2007-2012.

It Ends with Us, which also starred Jenny Slate, Hasan Minhaj, Brandon Sklenar and Kevin McKidd, arrived in theaters August 9 and was a hit with audiences

Lively has also appeared in films such as 2010's The Town, 2016's The Shallows, 2018's A Simple Favor, and 2020's The Rhythm Section. Her most recent film, It Ends With Us, was a hit at the box office last August, earning $148 million in domestic box office and $350 million globally.

But it's not just her acting career that has made headlines. Lively has been open about her experiences with harassment and abuse in the industry, using her platform to speak out against abuse and support other victims.

A LOOK AT JUSTIN BALDONI'S CAREER

Justin Baldoni is best known for playing the role of Rafael Solano on the TV show Jane the Virgin from 2014-2019. He has also directed films including 2019's Five Feet Apart and 2020's Clouds, and penned the 2021 book Man Enough, which tackled misconceptions of contemporary masculinity.

Baldoni has been praised for his work in promoting social justice and advocating for women's rights. But it seems that his actions on set may have fallen short of his words, with Lively accusing him of engaging in a smear campaign to destroy her reputation.

The drama between the two stars continues to unfold, but one thing is clear: Blake Lively has emerged victorious and is ready to keep speaking truth to power.