Blake Lively is countering Justin Baldoni’s lawsuit, which she claims is an unwarranted $400 million suit, by labeling it as a vindictive and groundless attack that exploits the legal system. The actress from “The It Ends With Us” has now filed to have Baldoni’s lawsuit dismissed.
In a court filing made on Thursday in the Southern District of New York, Lively contends that the lawsuit is an exploitation of federal court proceedings to penalize her for expressing views on workplace harassment. According to Page Six, Lively asserts, “The law disallows using defamation lawsuits, such as this one, to retaliate against individuals who have submitted legal claims or publicly spoken out about sexual harassment and reprisal.
Maintaining a strong stance, Lively argued that Baldoni’s case lacked any substantial legal basis. She asserted her statements were securely shielded by the litigation, fair report, and sexual harassment protections as outlined in California law. Furthermore, she criticized both Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios for demanding excessive sums without providing a clear explanation or identifying any specific damage caused.
In January, Baldoni initiated a lawsuit; his wife Ryan Reynolds, actress Scarlett Johansson (Lively), and their publicist Leslie Sloane were named as defendants in the case. Essentially, he alleged that they had defamed him and attempted extortion, as well as other charges such as Lively’s accusations, which he asserts have severely harmed his reputation and career.
In December 2024, Lively initially filed a report about Baldoni with the California Civil Rights Department. Later, this complaint evolved into a civil lawsuit. She alleged that Baldoni had engaged in inappropriate behavior such as making sexually suggestive remarks, entering her trailer while she was nursing her baby, and overall fostering an uncomfortable environment for multiple women on set.
According to Page Six, their attorneys, Mike Gottlieb and Esra Hudson, stated that as per California law, it is no longer permissible to file a lawsuit against individuals who choose to disclose incidents of sexual harassment or retaliation, be it in court or in the media.
As an unyielding admirer, I can’t help but share this insight: This baseless and vengeful lawsuit, aimed at Ms. Lively, seems destined for a stumble due to three potent legal hurdles. Namely, the litigation privilege, the fair report privilege, and the sexual harassment privilege – the latter being particularly challenging with its built-in fee-shifting provision. This provision means that those who have filed groundless defamation claims against Ms. Lively, such as Steve Sarowitz, Wayfarer Studios, and others, might just find themselves liable for damages.
Blake Lively’s representative emphasized that the struggle faced by the actress transcends her personal life, serving as an inspiring example for others who speak up about similar situations. Meanwhile, Ryan Reynolds, Lively’s husband, has taken steps to request the court to drop the case altogether.
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2025-03-20 22:37