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Like her husband, Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively is taking a detour in the ongoing Justin Baldoni case. The actress has now officially requested to be removed from her It Ends With Us co-star’s lawsuit. She claimed Baldoni was actually breaking the California laws by suing her. Lively is convinced this is the case because she notes Baldoni is coming after her for revenge. She stated that her co-star and director filed a defamation lawsuit against her, Reynolds, and her publicist.
This action followed Lively’s lawsuit, in which she accused him of sexual harassment during the film’s production. She alleged that he launched a smear campaign in response to her reporting the abuse to the studio. Lively argued that under California law, he is prohibited from suing her due to her accusations of sexual harassment.
Lively’s attorneys also claimed that “Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios have created more liability for themselves” by suing the actress. Lively claims Baldoni will be liable for her legal fees and face significant damages for starting the lawsuit. She counters Baldoni’s claims of bullying, asserting that it’s actually the actor who is bullying her. Per TMZ, Baldoni’s lawsuit reportedly aims to “bury” and “destroy” Lively for her stance against sexual harassment and retaliation.
Ryan Reynolds’ Attorney Stressed His Comments Against Justin Baldoni Is Not Defamatory
The Deadpool actor, siding with his wife, lampooned Baldoni in the Deadpool & Wolverine movie with a character named “Nicepool.” Baldoni then proceeded to name Reynolds in the defamation lawsuit alongside Lively. We shared that Reynolds responded by filing a motion to dismiss Baldoni’s lawsuit against him. Reynolds’ legal team dismissed Baldoni’s defamation allegations, claiming the label of “predator” was unfounded.
Mike Gottlieb and Esra Hudson argued that defamation requires proving Reynolds did not genuinely believe his characterization of Baldoni. They pointed out that Reynolds’ views were based on Lively’s grievances and Baldoni’s admissions about his treatment of women.The lawyers argued that Reynolds is protected by the First Amendment, enabling him to express his opinion on Baldoni.
The legal reps noted that those accusing the couple of bullying should take note of the First Amendment provision. The attorneys emphasized Reynolds’ innocence regarding the defamation claims and criticized Baldoni for tarnishing Reynolds’ reputation. They argued that Baldoni’s decision to include Reynolds in the lawsuit was to shame him for supporting Lively. Additionally, they contested Baldoni’s claim of suffering $400 million in damages and sought to have the lawsuit dismissed.
Blake Lively Gave a Cold Reaction to Skit Referencing Her Legal Debacle With Justin Baldoni
A month prior to his motion for dismissal, Reynolds had a memorable moment on Saturday Night Live. He attended the show’s 50th anniversary special on February 16 alongside his wife, and other celebrities. Although the couple appeared all smiles, Lively’s expression significantly shifted during a comedic skit.
SNL alums Tina Fey and Amy Poehler prompted the audience to ask questions about the show, and Reynolds participated. He joked about his well-being, teasingly asking, “Why? What have you heard?” Fey and Poehler assured him only positive feedback had reached them, but their serious expressions made the crowd laugh.
The reaction revealed underlying tension about Lively and Baldoni’s lawsuit, which she did not find funny. As the joke unfolded, her demeanor turned cold, with some fans describing her look as very scary. Many speculate that it was her unpreparedness for the skit and was feeling the pressure of the situation.
Will Blake Lively get the judge’s approval to dismiss Justin Baldoni’s lawsuit?
