Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds Urge Judge To Dismiss Justin Baldoni's Lawsuit

February 1, 2025: Blake Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, have informed a federal judge that they intend to seek the dismissal of a defamation lawsuit filed against them by actor-director Justin Baldoni. The legal dispute, which centers around accusations made by Lively regarding sexual harassment and retaliation on the set of the movie It Ends With Us, is set for its first hearing on Monday.

In documents filed by the couple’s legal team, Lively’s attorney, Michael J. Gottlieb, stated that they plan to move to dismiss the lawsuit, which was filed by Baldoni after Lively publicly accused him of sexual harassment on set and retaliatory actions when she spoke out about it. Baldoni, in turn, filed the defamation lawsuit, claiming that Lively’s accusations were false and damaging to his reputation.

A federal judge, Lewis Liman, had previously asked both parties to file a brief statement outlining their next steps, which prompted the Lively-Reynolds team to indicate their intent to dismiss the complaint. The legal teams of both parties are expected to discuss further details during the hearing on Monday, including allegations that Baldoni's lawyer, Bryan Freedman, made public statements that could influence the jury. Lively’s team has raised concerns about these statements, while Freedman has defended his right to publicly comment on the case.

At Monday's hearing, the attorneys will also discuss the possibility of scheduling a trial, which could take place as early as March 2026. Additionally, both sides have agreed to consolidate two related federal cases into one trial.

Meanwhile, Baldoni's legal team has requested to take Lively’s deposition soon, but they claim that Lively's attorneys have been unwilling to allow Freedman to conduct the deposition, citing unspecified statements made by him.

As the legal proceedings continue, both sides prepare for what promises to be a prolonged and contentious battle in the courtroom.