Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds are breathing a sigh of relief after a federal judge dismissed Justin Baldoni‘s $400 million lawsuit against the couple.
“They feel relief and vindication,” a source close to Lively and Reynolds tells Us Weekly exclusively.
“Blake is feeling a sense of pride that she continued to use her voice and stand strong and the counterattacks will now no longer be given more air,” the insider adds.
Judge Lewis J. Liman tossed Baldoni’s countersuit on Monday, June 9, as well as the actor’s $250 million libel complaint against The New York Times, which was the first to report on Lively accusing her It Ends With Us costar and director of sexual harassment and launching a smear campaign to damage her public image last year.
However, the judge said Baldoni can still amend his claims for breach of implied covenant and tortious interference with contract, with a deadline of June 23.
Lively’s lawyers celebrated the decision as a “total victory and a complete vindication” for their client.
“As we have said from day one, this ‘$400 million’ lawsuit was a sham, and the Court saw right through it,” Esra Hudson and Mike Gottlieb said in a statement to Us, adding that they “look forward” to “seeking attorneys’ fees, treble damages and punitive damages.”
Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, did not immediately respond to the news.
Sony Pictures Entertainment Blake Lively’s lawsuit against It Ends With Us costar and director Justin Baldoni has grabbed the attention of several castmates. In December 2024, the actress accused Baldoni of sexual harassment and orchestrating a smear campaign against her. In the complaint obtained by Us Weekly, Lively alleged that Baldoni created a “hostile work […]
The legal battle began in December 2024 when Lively, 37, filed a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department that alleged Baldoni, 41, had created a hostile work environment on the set of their movie and subsequently tried to tarnish her reputation with the help of his PR team.
Baldoni, who denied any wrongdoing, sued the Times later that month for its coverage of Lively’s “self-serving” accusations. The castmates then filed lawsuits against each other.
The case is scheduled to go to trial in March 2026.
With reporting by Andrea Simpson
