A federal judge has dismissed Blake Lively’s claims against Texas-based social media strategist Jed Wallace on jurisdictional grounds, but the actress remains set for a March 2026 trial against co-star Justin Baldoni over sexual harassment and smear campaign allegations.
November 6, 2025: The high-profile legal battle between actress Blake Lively and her It Ends With Us co-star and director Justin Baldoni has been partially narrowed, following a ruling that dismissed claims against one of the key figures accused of orchestrating an online smear campaign.
On Wednesday, Judge Lewis Liman of the Southern District of New York dismissed Lively’s claims against Jed Wallace, a social media strategist whom the actress had accused of helping Baldoni and his team “damage her reputation” during the film’s release.
Jurisdictional Hurdle Blocks Claims
The ruling was procedural, focusing on jurisdiction rather than the merit of the claims. Judge Liman ruled that Lively’s legal team failed to provide sufficient evidence demonstrating that Wallace, who is based in Austin, Texas, had the necessary ties to New York to be sued in that state.
Crucially, the decision highlighted a specific limitation in New York’s “long-arm” statute, which allows a plaintiff to sue a non-resident in New York if an injury occurred there. The statute, however, exempts defamation claims from this type of jurisdiction, making it difficult to sue a non-resident for an injury stemming from an alleged online smear campaign.
Lively’s team was previously allowed to refile the claims in July to establish jurisdiction, but the judge found the revised case still did not meet the legal requirements.
Focus Shifts to Baldoni Trial
Despite the setback, Lively’s main federal lawsuit, filed in December last year, remains intact against Baldoni, publicist Melissa Nathan, producer Jamey Heath, and others (collectively known as the Wayfarer defendants). Lively’s suit alleges that after she spoke out about sexual harassment on the set of It Ends With Us, the defendants engaged in a scheme to discredit her through an online “smear campaign.”
A spokesperson for Blake Lively confirmed that the actress is not deterred by the ruling against Wallace:
Blake Lively Spokesperson (via Variety): “The Court ruled that Ms. Lively’s claims can and should be brought in a different court. Ms. Lively is evaluating her many options for doing so, and looks forward to trial on all of her claims against Baldoni, Heath, Nathan, and the rest of the Wayfarer defendants in March in New York.”
The court also noted that Lively may be able to sue Wallace in Texas, though it remains unclear if she will pursue that option, especially since Wallace has already filed a separate defamation lawsuit against Lively in Texas.
Baldoni’s Camp Responds
Justin Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, welcomed the dismissal of Wallace from the New York case, stating: “Allegations that he participated in any smear campaign are unsupported, and all claims against him have been dismissed by this court. The other defendants look forward to their day in court when they will show there is no merit to Ms. Lively’s claims against them.”
This development follows the recent formal dismissal of Baldoni’s own $400 million defamation lawsuit against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, after his legal team failed to meet court deadlines.