Justin Baldoni drops $400M defamation suit against Blake Lively, plans new legal action

Actor and director Justin Baldoni has chosen not to refile his $400 million defamation lawsuit against co-star Blake Lively after it was dismissed earlier this month by Judge Lewis J. Liman.

Though legally allowed to amend and refile the claim by June 23, Baldoni has opted for a different legal route, according to a statement from his attorney, Bryan Freedman.

Instead of revising the complaint, Freedman confirmed that Baldoni will pursue “additional legal options” in response to Lively’s initial lawsuit, which accused him of sexual harassment and orchestrating a smear campaign. The decision not to refile has sparked new interest in the high-profile legal feud involving not only Lively but also her husband Ryan Reynolds, their publicist Leslie Sloane, and Sloane’s firm, Vision PR.

Freedman emphasized that the court’s dismissal does not invalidate Baldoni’s claims. “The Court’s decision… has no effect whatsoever on the truth,” he said. “There was no harassment nor any smear campaign.”

Back in January, Baldoni filed the defamation suit following Lively’s accusations. Despite the legal setback, Freedman insists the actor is determined to be “vindicated” and will continue defending himself vigorously as the legal battle evolves.

As discovery continues, both legal teams are preparing for further developments in what has become one of Hollywood’s most talked-about legal showdowns of 2025.