Justin Baldoni Files $400 Million Defamation Lawsuit Against Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds

On a notable Thursday, actor Justin Baldoni unleashed a defamation lawsuit against renowned Hollywood couple Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds. He alleged that they attempted to tarnish his reputation by accusing him of sexual harassment against Lively and retaliating through a smear campaign. The legal action is intertwined with the upcoming 2024 film “It Ends With Us,” where Lively starred and Baldoni not only starred but also directed.

The Legal Battle

The comprehensive 179-page complaint was lodged in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. In a surprising turn, it named not only Lively and her husband Reynolds but also their publicist Leslie Sloane and her company, Vision PR, as defendants. The plaintiffs include Baldoni, the film’s lead producer Jamey Heath, Wayfarer Studios, and publicists Melissa Nathan and Jennifer Abel. They are seeking a whopping $400 million in damages.

The Allegations Unfold

The court battle ensued after The New York Times published an article on December 21, shedding light on Lively’s allegations against Baldoni. According to reports, she filed a complaint the day prior with the California Civil Rights Department, asserting that Baldoni had initiated a campaign targeting her reputation following her sexual harassment accusations during the filming of “It Ends With Us.”