June 09, 2025: In a dramatic legal turn, Blake Lively has secured a major courtroom victory as a New York judge officially dismissed Justin Baldoni’s $400 million defamation and extortion countersuit. The high-profile legal battle, rooted in the fallout from the 2024 film It Ends With Us, has garnered significant media attention over the past several months due to the serious nature of the allegations and the involvement of multiple public figures.
The countersuit, filed by Baldoni and his production company Wayfarer Studios, alleged that Lively, along with her husband Ryan Reynolds, publicist Leslie Sloane, and her agency Vision PR, Inc., orchestrated a false narrative of sexual harassment to sabotage the film and damage Baldoni’s reputation. However, on Monday, Judge Lewis Liman decisively rejected those claims.
Why the Judge Dismissed the Case
Judge Liman ruled that Baldoni’s accusations of extortion failed to meet legal standards. According to the court, Blake’s alleged refusal to promote the film amid workplace disputes was not extortion but rather “legally permissible hard bargaining or renegotiation of working conditions.”
On the issue of defamation, the judge emphasized that the only statements linked directly to Lively were part of her legal filings, which are protected under litigation privilege. He also addressed the now-infamous New York Times article that reflected Blake’s version of events, ruling that there was no evidence of “actual malice” or a biased motive behind its publication.
“The Times had no obvious motive to favor Lively’s version of events,” Judge Liman wrote, asserting the newspaper had simply reported based on its own review of the evidence.
Blake Lively Breaks Her Silence
Following the court’s decision, Blake issued an official statement echoing sentiments from her legal team, describing the dismissal as “a total victory and a complete vindication.”
She further addressed the broader implications of retaliatory lawsuits in her personal message:
“Like so many others, I’ve felt the pain of a retaliatory lawsuit, including the manufactured shame that tries to break us. While the suit against me was defeated, so many don’t have the resources to fight back.”
Blake ended her statement with a powerful note of resolve:
“I am more resolved than ever to continue to stand for every woman’s right to have a voice in protecting themselves.”
What’s Next?
Justin Baldoni has yet to publicly respond to the court’s decision. With the legal cloud lifted, Blake Lively is expected to refocus her attention on her advocacy efforts and upcoming creative projects. The ruling marks a pivotal moment not only in her personal journey but also in the broader conversation around workplace accountability and legal retaliation in Hollywood.