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The dismissal of Justin Baldoni’s $400 million defamation lawsuit against Blake Lively marks a major legal and public relations setback for the It Ends With Us director. On June 9, U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman ruled in favor of Lively, effectively ending Baldoni’s sweeping claims that accused her and husband Ryan Reynolds of orchestrating a smear campaign to damage his career. With this decision, Lively scored what her legal team called a “total victory,” framing the case as a baseless attempt at intimidation that the court rightly saw through. While the ruling brings immediate relief to Lively, Reynolds, and their publicist Leslie Sloane—who were all implicated in the original filing—it also reflects the court’s recognition that the actress’s statements were protected by law, likely under free speech or anti-SLAPP provisions.
Baldoni’s allegations, which initially included extortion and defamation stemming from behind-the-scenes tensions on the film set, have been largely dismantled. Though the court allowed him the opportunity to refile some limited claims with revisions, the most explosive parts of his lawsuit—particularly the defamation and harassment countercharges—have been dismissed. This leaves Baldoni with far less leverage and casts significant doubt on the strength of his overall case.
For Lively and her team, the ruling is not just a legal win, but also a reputational one. Their statement celebrating the end of what they called “abusive litigation” shows confidence in pursuing further restitution, including legal fees and punitive damages. The case has drawn widespread attention not only for its massive financial scope but also for the involvement of high-profile names like Lively and Reynolds. Now, with the defamation claims legally struck down, the spotlight shifts back to Baldoni’s next legal moves—if any—and how the It Ends With Us production proceeds in the wake of such a public courtroom battle.