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

High-Profile Drama: Justin Baldoni's $400 Million Countersuit Against Blake Lively Dismissed

Justin Baldoni's $400million countersuit against Blake Lively has been dismissed - DailyMail.com can confirm amid their ongoing It Ends With Us legal wrangle - pictured together in December 2023

SHOCKING TWIST IN JUSTIN BALDONI VS BLAKE LIVELY BATTLE: $400 MILLION COUNTERSUIT DISMISSED

The drama-filled saga between Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively has taken another explosive turn, with a federal judge dismissing the actor's $400 million countersuit against the actress. The bombshell ruling marks a major setback for Baldoni, who was accused of sexually harassing Lively on set during their 2022 film "It Ends With Us".

The lawsuit, which was filed in December 2024, claimed that Lively had engaged in a smear campaign against Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios. However, Judge Lewis J. Liman ruled that the allegations were baseless and lacked merit.

The drama between Lively and Baldoni officially erupted late last year

In a scathing opinion, Liman wrote: "The Wayfarer Parties have not alleged that Lively is responsible for any statements other than the statements in her CRD complaint, which are privileged." The judge also stated that Baldoni failed to provide evidence of malicious intent or reckless disregard for the truth on the part of Lively, Reynolds, and Sloane.

The drama began last year when Lively accused Baldoni of sexual harassment on set. In a bombshell lawsuit filed in December 2024, she claimed that he had subjected her to "unwanted touching" and made "inappropriate comments" about her body. Baldoni denied the allegations, but his response only fueled the fire, with many accusing him of orchestrating a smear campaign against Lively.

As the drama unfolded, it emerged that Wayfarer Studios had been working closely with a PR firm to discredit Lively and tarnish her reputation. The firm, Vision in Public Relations, was accused of spreading false information about Lively on social media and leaking confidential documents to the press.

Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds, pictured April

Meanwhile, Reynolds and Sloane were also dragged into the lawsuit, with Baldoni accusing them of making "defamatory statements" against him. However, Liman ruled that these allegations were unfounded and lacked evidence.

The judge's decision has been hailed as a major victory for Lively, who had maintained her innocence throughout the ordeal. Her team released a statement saying: "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."

The $400 million countersuit was dismissed in its entirety, with Liman ruling that the claims of defamation and extortion brought by Baldoni were baseless. However, the judge did allow the Wayfarer Parties to file a second amended complaint by June 23, 2025.

Judge Lewis J Limon has dismissed Baldoni's suit alleging defamation and extortion on the basis that all her allegations were made within privileged court papers; Lively pictured in It Ends With Us

As the drama continues to unfold, sources close to the production have revealed that tensions between Lively and Baldoni had been simmering for months. Insiders claim that the actress had become increasingly uncomfortable with Baldoni's behavior on set, leading her to take action against him.

The fallout from the lawsuit has been significant, with Baldoni facing professional consequences including a lawsuit from a former publicist and being dropped by his agency, WME. The agency has denied claims that Lively and Reynolds leaned on them to release Baldoni from their client roster.

In related news, The New York Times has also come under fire for its coverage of the drama. In a $250 million defamation lawsuit filed against the publication, Baldoni claimed that the newspaper had published false information about him. However, Liman ruled that the Times' reporting was fair and accurate, and dismissed the lawsuit.

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

As the dust settles on this latest development in the saga, one thing is clear: Blake Lively has emerged victorious, with her reputation intact and her integrity upheld. Meanwhile, Justin Baldoni's career continues to suffer as a result of his actions, leaving many to wonder what's next for the embattled actor.

A TIMELINE OF THE DRAMA

  • December 20, 2024: Blake Lively files an 80-page civil rights complaint with the California Civil Rights Department against Justin Baldoni.
  • December 31, 2024: Lively officially files a federal lawsuit against Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios.
  • January 2025: The New York Times publishes a bombshell story about the allegations of sexual harassment on set.
  • February 2025: Justin Baldoni sues The New York Times for $250 million in a defamation claim over its coverage of the story.
  • March 2025: Lively drops her claims of intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress against Baldoni.
  • April 2025: Judge Liman dismisses the $400 million countersuit filed by Wayfarer Studios.

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

WHAT'S NEXT?

The drama between Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively continues to unfold, with many questions still unanswered. Will Balldoni's career recover from this latest blow? Can Lively's reputation withstand the scrutiny of the public eye?

As the saga continues to captivate audiences around the world, one thing is clear: only time will tell what happens next in this juicy tale of Hollywood drama and deceit.

Sources:

  • TheScholarlyNote.com
  • Variety
  • Box Office Mojo