Blake Lively Breaks Down in Tears of Relief as Justin Baldoni’s $400 million Lawsuit Gets Thrown Out in Court

Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni
Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni

Justin Baldoni’s legal battle with Blake Lively just took a huge hit after a judge officially tossed out his jaw-dropping $400 million defamation lawsuit.

The “Jane the Virgin” star had launched the suit not only against Lively but also included her husband, Ryan Reynolds, and The New York Times, claiming they were behind a smear campaign after she accused him of sexual harassment.

The tension first flared up during the filming of It Ends With Us, where Lively accused Baldoni, who starred in and directed the film, of inappropriate behaviour and trying to damage her reputation. Baldoni has strongly denied the claims and insists she’s the one orchestrating a campaign against him.

His lawyer, Bryan Freedman, wasn’t ready to wave the white flag just yet. In a statement on Tuesday, 10 June, he argued that Lively and her team were celebrating too soon. “Ms. Lively and her team’s predictable declaration of victory is false, so let us be clear about the latest ruling,” he said. Although the court threw out the defamation-related parts of the case, Freedman pointed out they were invited to amend four of the seven claims, promising that fresh evidence and sharper allegations would be brought to light.

He told TMZ they weren’t discouraged at all by the judge’s decision, instead framing it as a chance to really show that Lively’s accusations were false and that Baldoni’s name had been unfairly dragged through the mud.

Meanwhile, Blake Lively didn’t seem to be losing any sleep over the situation. Just hours before Baldoni’s camp vowed to continue the fight, she stepped out smiling at the Chanel Tribeca Festival Artists Dinner in New York City. Looking radiant in a white crochet dress with Louboutin heels and Chanel accessories, she seemed like someone who’d had a massive weight lifted. According to a source, the judge’s ruling brought on a wave of happy tears. “Complete elation from Blake’s world and a monkey off her back,” they said. “Blake is breathing a sigh of relief right now, and all tears are happy tears.”

Her legal team echoed that sentiment, calling the court’s decision a “total victory” and labelling Baldoni’s claims as “sham” allegations. They said the judge saw right through his story and made it clear they were preparing for what comes next. “We look forward to the next round,” they said, noting they’d now be seeking attorney fees, treble damages, and punitive damages against Baldoni and the others involved in what they described as abusive litigation.

The court has given Baldoni until 23 June to submit a revised complaint, but it must stick to very specific legal claims — things like tortious interference and breach of implied covenant. No more defamation charges allowed.

Lively later shared her reaction online, breaking her silence with a heartfelt Instagram Story on 9 June. “Like so many others, I’ve felt the pain of a retaliatory lawsuit, including the manufactured shame that tries to break us,” she wrote. “While the suit against me was defeated, so many don’t have the resources to fight back.”

She went on to thank supporters, both friends and strangers, and said she’s more committed than ever to supporting women without a voice. She also highlighted a few advocacy groups, including California Women’s Law Center and Women’s Justice NOW.

The judge had already warned Baldoni’s team last month about submitting irrelevant documents, like a letter suggesting Lively’s lawyer tried to pressure Taylor Swift for support. That didn’t sit well with the court, which called the letter improper and likely to stir up press chaos.

Whether Baldoni’s amended complaint gets any further remains to be seen. For now, though, Blake’s got every reason to breathe easier.

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