Justin Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, has criticized Ryan Reynolds for attempting to dismiss a defamation lawsuit against him. Freedman accused Reynolds of trying to escape responsibility after filing a motion to be removed from the case.
In a statement to PEOPLE, Freedman claimed that Reynolds played a key role in the alleged smear campaign against Baldoni and his Wayfarer team. He argued that Reynolds’ attempt to dismiss the case was an effort to downplay serious accusations, stating, “Mr. Reynolds now attempts to reduce plainly cognizable claims to ‘hurt feelings,’ sending a clear message that bullying is acceptable.”
Freedman further accused Reynolds of trying to evade accountability, saying, “After lighting a match, Mr. Reynolds now seeks to run from the flames. It won’t work.” He added that Reynolds could try to joke about the situation on sketch shows, but the legal team would continue pursuing justice.
On the other hand, Reynolds’ attorneys, Mike Gottlieb and Esra Hudson, responded by arguing that Baldoni’s lawsuit lacks legal merit. They filed a motion on March 18, asserting that calling someone a predator is an opinion protected under the First Amendment.
Reynolds’ legal team stated that for a defamation claim to be valid, Baldoni would need to prove that Reynolds knowingly made false statements. They argued that the lawsuit failed to make such an allegation and instead implied that Reynolds genuinely believed Baldoni was a predator. The defense also pointed out that Baldoni had publicly discussed his past behavior toward women and consent.
Baldoni initially filed the $400 million defamation lawsuit in January against Reynolds, his wife Blake Lively, and their publicist Leslie Sloane. The case revolves around claims that Reynolds called Baldoni a sexual predator at the Deadpool & Wolverine premiere in July 2024, leading a talent agency to drop Baldoni later that year. However, the agency denied that Reynolds influenced their decision, stating Baldoni’s representative was not even present at the event.
