The legal dispute between the “It Ends With Us” co-stars is far from over, even though a judge on Monday dismissed American actor Justin Baldoni’s $400 million lawsuit against Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds.
Lively remains committed to pursuing her sexual harassment and retaliation claims against Baldoni, who in turn vows to continue fighting back.
Blake Lively’s attorney, Michael Gottlieb, told CNN on Monday that the actress is “determined to see her claims through and to pursue them to have a full public accountability of what she’s alleged happened to her.”
Gottlieb celebrated the dismissal of Baldoni’s lawsuit, which also targeted the couple’s publicist and The New York Times, as a “vindication,” stating it sends a message that “retaliatory lawsuits that are designed to silence and punish people who speak up won’t work.
” He added, “They are not going to work. They won’t be tolerated by our justice system, and they will not be successful.”
However, Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, quickly countered in a Tuesday statement to CNN, calling Lively’s team’s declaration of victory “false.”
Freedman clarified that “The Court has invited us to amend four out of the seven claims against Ms. Lively, which will showcase additional evidence and refined allegations.”
He reiterated that Baldoni’s case revolves around “false accusations of sexual harassment and retaliation and a nonexistent smear campaign,” expressing confidence as they “march forward” towards Lively’s upcoming deposition.
Freedman also thanked “the Internet sleuth community who continue to cover the case with discernment and integrity.”
This latest development adds another chapter to the nearly year-long legal feud.
Lively filed a civil rights complaint in December 2024, alleging sexual harassment by Baldoni during film production and subsequent retaliation for speaking out.
Baldoni denied these claims, filing his suit in January 2025 against Lively and Reynolds, accusing the couple of attempting to “destroy” his career by hijacking his film.
He also sued The New York Times for allegedly publishing an inaccurate article based on Lively’s “self-serving narrative.”
All motions to dismiss filed by Lively, Reynolds, their publicist Leslie Sloan, and The New York Times were granted on Monday.
A spokesperson for The New York Times expressed gratitude to the court for “seeing the lawsuit for what it was: a meritless attempt to stifle honest reporting.”
The judge’s ruling allows Baldoni until June 23 to file an amended complaint concerning “tortious interference with contract” against Reynolds and Lively and “breach of implied covenant” against Lively.
While Gottlieb acknowledged these “ancillary or side claims” can be refiled, he stressed that the “core defamation allegations are gone from the case.”
