Judge tosses Justin Baldoni’s lawsuits against Blake Lively and New York Times

A federal judge dismissed Justin Baldoni’s lawsuits against Blake Lively, her husband and the New York Times, the latest wrinkle in a PR battle-turned-legal saga that has gripped Hollywood.

A judge has dismissed Justin Baldoni’s case against Blake Lively. Picture; AP.

A federal judge has dismissed lawsuits brought by actor and director Justin Baldoni against actress Blake Lively, her husband, Ryan Reynolds, and the New York Times, the latest wrinkle in a PR battle-turned-legal saga that has gripped Hollywood.

The feud between the celebrities is centred on Baldoni and Lively’s behaviour during and after the filming of the movie “It Ends With Us,” based on Colleen Hoover’s best-selling novel. Baldoni and Lively co-starred in the film, which was released in August 2024, and Baldoni also directed it.

The film was co-financed by Wayfarer Studios, a company co-founded by Baldoni, and grossed more than $350 million worldwide.

In late December, Lively sued Baldoni, his publicists, Wayfarer and others in New York federal court, alleging “invasive, unwelcome, unprofessional and sexually inappropriate behaviour” by Baldoni and Wayfarer CEO Jamey Heath. She is seeking a monetary judgment for “mental pain and anguish and severe and serious emotional distress.” Baldoni, Wayfarer, Heath and their publicists sued Lively and Reynolds for defamation, invasion of privacy and contract interference, among other things, and alleged damages of more than $400 million.

Baldoni later sued the Times for libel, seeking $250 million in damages over an article published in December about an alleged campaign by Baldoni and his team to harm Lively’s reputation.

A number of actors, directors and others in Hollywood have publicly taken sides in the Baldoni-Lively feud, and the allegations from both sides overshadowed promotion for Lively’s latest film, released this spring.

In his ruling Monday, U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman said that Baldoni and his studio can’t sue for defamation because the allegations didn’t show that the parties involved knew their statements were false, which is required to make someone liable for defamation. Liman also said the allegations that Lively tried to steal creative control of the film didn’t count as extortion under California law, which Baldoni and his studio used to make its claims.

Liman said Baldoni and his studio have until June 23 to file a complaint focused on contract interference.

Representatives for Baldoni, Lively, Reynolds, Wayfarer and the Times didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.

Dow Jones