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Justin Baldoni suffered a huge upset in his legal war against Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds.

Judge Lewis J. Liman granted the motion filed by Lively and Reynolds to dismiss Baldoni and Wayfarer’s $400 million lawsuit alleging extortion and defamation on Monday, The Post can confirm.

The judge also dismissed Baldoni’s $250 million defamation lawsuit against the New York Times.


  Justin Baldoni on “Today.” Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty Images Justin Baldoni on “Today.” Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty Images

Though Judge Liman granted Lively’s motion, he gave Baldoni a chance to amend and refile two of his claims against Lively and Reynolds, which must be done by June 23.

“The Wayfarer Parties have not alleged that Lively is responsible for any statements other than the statements in her CRD complaint, which are privileged,” he wrote in the opinion and order filing obtained by The Post.


  Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds at MetLife Stadium in 2023. Corey Sipkin for New York Post Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds at MetLife Stadium in 2023. Corey Sipkin for New York Post

The actress famously accused her “It Ends With Us” co-star, who also served as the film’s director, of sexual harassment in the December 2024 complaint.

The judge explained Baldoni and Wayfarer’s lawsuit “alleged that Reynolds and [publicist Leslie] Sloane made additional statements accusing Baldoni of sexual misconduct and that the ‘Times’ made additional statements accusing the Wayfarer Parties of engaging in a smear campaign.”

However, he added, “The Wayfarer Parties have not alleged that Reynolds, Sloane or the ‘Times’ would have seriously doubted these statements were true based on the information available to them, as is required for them to be liable for defamation under applicable law.”


  Justin Baldoni, Blake Lively shooting “It Ends With Us.” Christopher Peterson / SplashNews.com Justin Baldoni, Blake Lively shooting “It Ends With Us.” Christopher Peterson / SplashNews.com

In his lawsuit against the Times, Baldoni alleged libel and false light invasion of privacy over the newspaper’s December 21, 2024, article about Lively’s complaint, in which the publication painted her as a star who endured months of alleged sexual harassment from him and faced retaliation of a smear campaign when she voiced her concerns.

Lively’s lawyers, Esra Hudson & Mike Gottlieb, celebrated Monday’s legal win, calling it a “complete vindication” for the actress.

“Today’s opinion is a total victory and a complete vindication for Blake Lively, along with those that Justin Baldoni and the Wayfarer Parties dragged into their retaliatory lawsuit, including Ryan Reynolds, Leslie Sloane and The New York Times. As we have said from day one, this ‘$400 million’ lawsuit was a sham, and the Court saw right through it,” they said in a statement.


  Justin Baldoni attends Variety Faith And Spirituality In Entertainment Honors in Dec. 2024. Variety via Getty Images Justin Baldoni attends Variety Faith And Spirituality In Entertainment Honors in Dec. 2024. Variety via Getty Images

A spokesperson for the Times told The Post: “We are grateful to the court for seeing the lawsuit against The New York Times for what it was: a meritless attempt to stifle honest reporting. Our journalists went out and covered carefully and fairly a story of public importance, and the court recognized that the law is designed to protect just that sort of journalism. We will continue to stand up in court for our journalism and for our journalists when their work comes under attack.”

The Post has reached out to Baldoni’s attorney for comment.

In December, Lively made bombshell allegations that Baldoni sexually harassed her on the set of “It Ends With Us” and “coordinated effort to destroy her reputation” after the film was released. 

Days later, she sued him, claiming “severe emotional distress and pain, humiliation, embarrassment, belittlement, frustration and mental anguish” in addition to lost wages.


  Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds at “Another Simple Favor” screening in New York. Nancy Rivera / SplashNews.com Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds at “Another Simple Favor” screening in New York. Nancy Rivera / SplashNews.com

  Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively in a selfie. vancityreynolds/Instagram Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively in a selfie. vancityreynolds/Instagram

Baldoni denied the allegations and countersued Lively, Reynolds and their publicist, Leslie Sloane, for $400 million over alleged defamation and extortion, which they, too, denied.

The legal battle took a turn in Lively’s favor last week when journalist James Vituscka came forward and walked back his claims (which were included in Baldoni’s lawsuit) that Sloane said Lively was “sexually harassed” by Baldoni.

According to People, Vituscka, on Thursday, filed a signed declaration and insisted that Sloane “never told me that Ms. Lively was sexually harassed or sexually assaulted by Justin Baldoni or anyone else.”


  Justin Baldoni attends the “It Ends With Us” premiere in New York in Aug. 2024. Gregory Pace/Shutterstock Justin Baldoni attends the “It Ends With Us” premiere in New York in Aug. 2024. Gregory Pace/Shutterstock

“In those text messages, my use of the phrase ‘sexually assaulted’ was a mistake. … I regret this error,” Vituscka reportedly added. “This phrase was not in reference to any conversation that I had with Leslie Sloane.”

Lively also attempted to withdraw her intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress claims against Baldoni last week after his legal team sought to obtain her medical records.

The “A Simple Favor” star’s lawyers described the legal move as “a routine part of the litigation process” and claimed that Baldoni’s team was using the decision “as a press stunt.”

Lively and Baldoni’s trial is set for March 2026.

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