Ryan Reynolds calls Justin Baldoni a ‘predator’ in legal motion to dismiss $400M lawsuit

Ryan Reynolds files a motion to dismiss Justin Baldoni’s $400M lawsuit, defending Blake Lively.

Ryan Reynolds has moved to dismiss his inclusion in Justin Baldoni’s $400 million lawsuit, arguing that he was wrongfully named in the ongoing legal battle involving his wife, Blake Lively. In a strongly worded legal motion, Reynolds referred to Baldoni as a "predator" and defended his statements as protected speech under the First Amendment.

The lawsuit stems from Lively’s initial legal action against Baldoni in December 2024, where she accused him of orchestrating a "smear campaign" against her following disputes on the set of It Ends With Us. In response, Baldoni filed a defamation lawsuit against Lively, Reynolds, and The New York Times, which published an article about the allegations. Reynolds, who claims he was unfairly pulled into the case, described himself in his motion as a "supportive spouse" who witnessed the "emotional, reputational, and financial devastation" Lively suffered.

Reynolds’ defense also delves into Baldoni’s own past statements, which he argues further justify his criticism. He cited interviews where Baldoni admitted to struggles with pornography addiction and acknowledged that his early exposure to explicit content influenced his behavior toward women. According to court documents, Reynolds contends that Baldoni’s own words provide ample reason for him to hold the opinion that the filmmaker’s actions were predatory.

Additionally, Reynolds rejected Baldoni’s claim that a satirical character in Deadpool & Wolverine—which Baldoni alleges was based on him—has any relevance to the case, dismissing it as "thin-skinned outrage" over a fictional persona.

As the legal battle intensifies, the court’s decision on Reynolds’ motion could set a precedent for how defamation claims involving public figures are handled. With both sides escalating their claims, further hearings are expected in the coming months.