Judge Dismisses Baldoni's Defamation Lawsuit Against Blake Lively

A New York federal court judge dismissed Justin Baldoni's multimillion-dollar defamation lawsuit against Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds, Leslie Sloane, and The New York Times. The suit stemmed from their coverage of Baldoni's 2024 sexual assault claim against Lively. Judge Lewis J. Liman's decision stated that Baldoni's defamation claims did not meet the legal requirements. While the dismissal covers the entirety of the lawsuits, the judge left open the possibility for Baldoni and his lawyers to modify certain aspects of the claim related to breach of contract and unlawful interference by June 23rd. Lively's legal team celebrated the decision as a 'total victory' and 'complete vindication.' Baldoni's legal representatives have not yet issued any public statements following the ruling. Despite the dismissal, Lively and Baldoni are still scheduled to face off in court in March 2026 for the main sexual assault claim.