Justin Baldoni’s Defamation Countersuit Against Blake Lively Dismissed

A judge has formally ended Justin Baldoni’s $400 million defamation countersuit against Blake Lively after the actor failed to file an amended complaint following the initial dismissal of the case in June.

U.S. District Court Judge Lewis Liman signed an order yesterday, October 31, stating that Baldoni and his Wayfarer Studios co-plaintiffs did not meet the deadline to submit a revised complaint. The judge had notified all parties on October 17 of his intention to enter a final judgment, and Lively was the sole respondent, requesting the judgment be finalized while preserving her claim for legal fees – a request the judge granted. This legal battle stems from accusations of misconduct during the production of “It Ends with Us,” a film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s popular novel.

The dismissal marks the latest development in a complex legal saga that began in December when Lively filed suit against Baldoni, alleging misconduct on set and a retaliatory smear campaign, claims Baldoni denies. Previously, Judge Liman dismissed Baldoni’s initial countersuit, which also targeted Lively’s husband, Ryan Reynolds, and their publicist, citing protections afforded to allegations of sexual harassment under a California law enacted following the #MeToo movement. Lively’s attorney, Esra Hudson, previously called the initial countersuit a “sham,” while Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, maintained the case was about “false accusations.” You can learn more about defamation law at the Cornell Law School Legal Information Institute.

Lively’s original lawsuit remains ongoing, with a trial currently scheduled for March 2026. The outcome of this case could set a precedent for how allegations of misconduct are handled in the entertainment industry and the legal ramifications of public accusations.

Officials stated that the court will now proceed with Lively’s claim for legal fees, and further developments will be determined by the ongoing original lawsuit.