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Justin Baldoni Challenges Blake Lively’s Motion to Dismiss Lawsuit
Published April 3, 2025 7:49 PM PDT
Justin Baldoni is responding emphatically to Blake Lively’s recent attempt to have his lawsuit against her dismissed, alleging that she is engaged in a campaign to damage his professional reputation, as detailed in new legal documents.
Baldoni has officially submitted his rebuttal to Lively’s motion in federal court, outlining multiple reasons why the court should maintain the lawsuit rather than absolve the actress.
In the court filings, Baldoni accuses Lively of orchestrating a smear campaign with the intent of tarnishing the reputations and careers of individuals associated with Wayfarer Studios, which he co-founded. The studio produced the film “It Ends With Us,” which starred both Lively and Baldoni, the latter also taking on directorial responsibilities. This production has been marred by disputes, particularly following Lively’s initial lawsuit claiming sexual harassment and alleging that Baldoni manipulated narratives against her.
Baldoni’s legal action extends beyond Lively; he has also filed against her husband, Ryan Reynolds, and the New York Times, asserting that Lively directed a media campaign that included a damaging article published by the newspaper.
In the latest submission, Baldoni claims that there is substantial evidence indicating Lively’s involvement in the publication of defamatory remarks, asserting that she sanctioned or authorized the statements before they went public.
Moreover, he contends that Lively provided the New York Times with a misleading narrative about a purported public relations sabotage as retaliation for her harassment allegations, fully aware that the story was misleading.
Baldoni also elaborated on other justifications for the court to reject Lively’s motion, highlighting her actions as driven by malice.
Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, communicated through TMZ, asserting, “Ms. Lively and her circle of Hollywood elites should not impede my clients from exercising their constitutional right to contest false claims in court.” He emphasized the significance of protecting the right to seek justice, which is safeguarded by the First Amendment for all individuals facing false accusations.
Freedman concluded his remarks by stating, “This must end here, and we will persist in fighting this overt attempt to obstruct access to the judicial system while undermining our nation’s Constitution to favor those in authority.”
Source
www.tmz.com