Actor and filmmaker Justin Baldoni&rsquo;s $400 million extortion and defamation lawsuit against actress Blake Lively, actor Ryan Reynolds, and The New York Times has been dismissed by a federal court in Manhattan. However, Baldoni still faces serious sexual harassment and retaliation allegations filed by Lively.
The case was officially closed after U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman noted that Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios, failed to meet the deadline to submit an amended complaint following the court&rsquo;s initial dismissal in June. At the time, the judge ruled that Baldoni had not provided sufficient evidence of defamation, since the statements in question were part of an official Civil Rights Department complaint &mdash; a legally protected document.
The judge also pointed out that Baldoni&rsquo;s team did not respond to a court order issued on October 17, asking why a final judgment should not be entered. With no response received, the court formally closed the case.
Neither Baldoni nor Wayfarer Studios has publicly commented on the decision. The actor still has the right to appeal after the court rules on Lively&rsquo;s motion to recover legal fees.
Following the ruling, The New York Times expressed gratitude toward the court for recognizing the case as an attempt to undermine legitimate journalism, stating that their reporting was &ldquo;careful, fair, and of public importance.&rdquo;
Blake Lively&rsquo;s Lawsuit Still Active
While Baldoni&rsquo;s lawsuit has been dismissed, Blake Lively&rsquo;s sexual harassment and retaliation claims remain active. Filed in Manhattan federal court on December 31, her complaint accuses Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios of creating a toxic work environment during the filming of It Ends With Us.
According to Lively&rsquo;s filing, Baldoni allegedly entered her private space without consent, introduced intimate scenes without her approval, and made invasive remarks about her personal life with her husband, Ryan Reynolds. She also recounted a disturbing incident during the filming of a slow-dance scene, alleging that Baldoni leaned close, dragged his lips along her neck, and said, &ldquo;It smells so good.&rdquo;
Lively further claimed that after she raised concerns about the on-set conduct, Baldoni attempted to damage her reputation by organizing a smear campaign against her.
As the court proceedings continue, Baldoni&rsquo;s dismissal marks one legal chapter closed &mdash; but the high-profile case between the It Ends With Us co-stars is far from over.

Court dismisses Baldoni’s $400M suit; Lively’s harassment case still ongoing

Justin Baldoni’s $400M Lawsuit Dismissed

Court dismisses Baldoni’s $400M suit; Lively’s harassment case still ongoing

November 2, 2025 | 23:28 IST