Hollywood power couple Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds have formally expressed their intent to seek the dismissal of a defamation lawsuit filed by actor and director Justin Baldoni. This legal battle, stemming from the making of It Ends With Us, is set to unfold in federal court with both sides preparing for the first hearing on Monday.
Motion To Dismiss Submitted By Lively-Reynolds Legal Team
According to a report from Variety, Lively and Reynolds’ legal team filed a motion notice on Thursday. The notice outlined their intention to move forward with requesting the dismissal of Baldoni’s complaint. The motion submission, in response to Judge Lewis Liman’s order, was brief and to the point: “The Lively-Reynolds Parties intend to move to dismiss Plaintiffs’ complaint.” A similar notice was also filed by Leslie Sloane, a publicist named in Baldoni’s lawsuit.
The defamation lawsuit stems from allegations made by Blake Lively against Justin Baldoni. Lively has accused Baldoni of sexually harassing her on the set of It Ends With Us, followed by a retaliatory smear campaign after she spoke out. Baldoni, on the other hand, claims that Lively defamed him by misrepresenting their text messages and interactions. He also alleges that Lively and Reynolds pressured talent agency WME to sever ties with him, a claim that WME denies.
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Upcoming Court Proceedings & Trial Plans
During the upcoming hearing, both sides are expected to address key aspects of the case, including the conduct of Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman. Lively’s legal team argues that Freedman’s public comments may prejudice the jury pool, while Freedman defends his right to publicly defend his client.
The judge has set a preliminary timeline for the trial, which is expected to take place in March 2026. Both parties have agreed to consolidate the two federal cases into a single proceeding, a rare point of agreement amidst the legal battle.
Disputes Over Lively’s Deposition & Legal Strategy
Tensions have also escalated over the matter of Lively’s deposition. Baldoni’s team has requested to depose Lively as soon as possible, but Lively’s legal team signaled that she will refuse to allow Freedman to conduct the deposition, citing “unspecified statements made by Mr. Freedman.” This dispute over who may conduct the deposition will likely be addressed in Monday’s hearing.
Kevin Fritz, Baldoni’s attorney, responded by asserting that Lively’s refusal is unwarranted, stating, “Parties to litigation simply do not have the right to dictate which of their opponents’ attorneys may or may not take their deposition.”
With a long road ahead, the legal drama between Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds, and Justin Baldoni is far from over. As both sides prepare for Monday’s hearing, the public’s attention will remain firmly on how this high-profile lawsuit unfolds.
