Baldoni and production company Wayfarer Studios countersued in January for 400 million dollars (£294.9 million), accusing Lively and her husband, Deadpool actor Ryan Reynolds, of defamation and extortion. Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds (Dennis Van Tine/PA)The judge ruled that Baldoni cannot sue Lively for defamation over claims she made in her lawsuit, because allegations made in a lawsuit are exempt from libel claims. Judge Liman also ruled that Baldoni’s claims that Lively stole creative control of the film did not count as extortion under California law. Baldoni’s legal team can revise the lawsuit if it wants to pursue different claims related to whether Lively breached a contract, the judge said. The judge also dismissed Baldoni’s defamation lawsuit against The New York Times, which had reported on Lively’s sexual harassment allegations.

Source: The Times June 09, 2025 19:57 UTC