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Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds are seeking to dismiss Justin Baldoni’s defamation lawsuit.
Lively, 37, and Reynolds, 48, told a federal judge on Thursday, January 30, that they will move to dismiss the legal action filed against them by the It Ends With Us director, 40, Variety reported the same day.
Per Variety, each side’s attorneys are set to appear in court on Monday, February 3 for the case’s first hearing.
According to the outlet, the couple’s attorneys filed the notice on Thursday after Judge Lewis Liman asked for a letter to “indicate in one sentence the Defendant’s intent to make a motion to dismiss.”
Us Weekly has reached out to Baldoni’s representatives for comment.
Rumors of a rift between Baldoni and Lively first arose in August 2024 during the promotional trail for It Ends With Us when the pair, who were both the lead actors in the film, did not do press together.
In December 2024, Lively sued Baldoni for sexual harassment. In the court documents, which were obtained by Us Weekly after reporting from TMZ and The New York Times, Lively also accused Baldoni of launching a “social manipulation” campaign against her to “destroy” her reputation. The docs also claim that Lively was not the only cast member to complain about Baldoni. (Baldoni denied all allegations against him made in the lawsuit.)
Days after Lively sued him, Baldoni was among 10 plaintiffs who launched a $250 million lawsuit against The New York Times for its coverage of Lively’s accusations. (A spokesperson for The New York Times told Us that the outlet is planning to “vigorously defend against the lawsuit.”)
Lively filed a lawsuit that same day against Baldoni in a New York federal court which mirrored her earlier claims — which were filed with the California Civil Rights Department. In addition to Baldoni, the actress is also suing publicists Melissa Nathan and Jennifer Abel, along with Wayfarer Studios. The lawsuit alleged sexual harassment, retaliation, breach of contract, infliction of emotional distress, invasion of privacy and lost wages. (Baldoni’s side denies all claims made in the lawsuit.)
Baldoni’s studio filed a new lawsuit on Thursday, January 16 against Lively, her publicist Leslie Sloane, and her husband, Reynolds, seeking damages of $400 million. The lawsuit includes accusations of civil extortion, defamation, false light invasion of privacy and other claims.
In response, Lively’s legal team told Us Weekly via a statement that Baldoni’s side was using a “desperate” strategy that “attempts to turn the tables on the victim.” Lively’s legal team claimed the strategy will ultimately “fail.”
