Oh, the drama: Justin Baldoni Not Refiling $400M Suit Against Blake Lively
With the countersuit off the table (for now), discovery drama and Taylor Swift texts take center stage. Is Baldoni retreating—or just reloading?
In a dramatic turn, Justin Baldoni has abandoned plans to amend his $400 million defamation and extortion countersuit against Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds, signaling a major shift in his legal strategy following its dismissal earlier this month. Judge Lewis J. Liman tossed out Baldoni’s countersuit on June 9, giving him until June 23 to revise claims of breach of implied covenant and tortious interference with contract. However, Baldoni’s attorney Bryan Freedman confirmed to Page Six that no amendment was filed, opting instead for “additional legal options” to defend against Lively’s allegations.
Freedman, in a statement released Tuesday, insisted, “The Court’s decision on the motion to dismiss has no effect whatsoever on the truth that there was no harassment nor any smear campaign, and it does not in any way affect our vigorous defense against Ms. Lively’s claims.” He added that discovery is ongoing, with confidence in prevailing against what he calls “factually baseless accusations.” This pivot comes after Liman ruled that Baldoni failed to prove Lively was responsible for defamatory statements beyond her privileged California Civil Rights Department complaint.
Lively’s spokesperson hailed the dismissal as a “total victory,” telling Page Six, “The Court dismissed the frivolous $400 million Baldoni-Wayfarer lawsuit in its entirety… As per usual, [Baldoni’s] promise to amend and refile was not true.” The 37-year-old actress sued Baldoni, 41, in December 2024, alleging sexual harassment, retaliation, breach of contract, emotional distress, invasion of privacy, and lost wages during the filming of It Ends With Us. Baldoni’s January countersuit accused Lively and Reynolds of a coordinated smear campaign, but the June 9 ruling left his case in tatters.
The legal battle intensified last week when Baldoni scored a partial win, with Liman granting him access to private text messages between Lively and Taylor Swift regarding the film, deemed relevant to disproving harassment claims. Documents obtained by Page Six quote the judge stating the requests are “reasonably tailored” to the case. This development has increaed speculation, with some suggesting Baldoni aims to expose inconsistencies, though no new texts have been publicized as of today.
The past week saw no courtroom action on June 24-25, but the missed June 23 deadline has sparked online debate. Baldoni’s failure to amend has been labeled a “retreat” by Lively supporters, while his team hints at an appeal or separate action. The case, set for trial on March 9, 2026, remains a high-stakes clash, with 19 women’s rights groups backing Lively and Baldoni’s defense leaning on his recent text victory. Experts suggest a settlement looms, but with tensions high and public scrutiny fierce, the saga continues to unravel.