Hollywood star Ryan Reynolds has requested a judge to remove him as a defendant from Justin Baldoni’s $400 million defamation lawsuit. In his recent court filing, Ryan claims that Baldoni’s case has no legal issues and is based only on emotional feelings.
The lawsuit alleges that Ryan called Justin a predator on two occasions. However, his legal team insists that he genuinely believes this opinion, which they argue is protected under free speech laws. The actor’s lawyers also arguedthat calling someone a predator is a protected and personal opinion, not defamation.
Justin’s lawsuit reflects on Ryan’s Deadpool & Wolverine movie, where a character named ‘Nicepool’ allegedly mocks Justin . However, Ryan’s lawyers dismissed this claim as ‘thin-skinned outrage over a movie character,’ saying it holds no legal ground.
Blake Lively’s Legal Battle With Justin
While Ryan is named in the case, his lawyers point out that his only involvement is as a ‘supportive husband.’ Blake Lively had earlier filed a sexual harassment and retaliation case against Justin and his business partners.
Justin has accused Ryan of trying to damage his career by influencing his removal from the talent agency WME and making unauthorised changes to the script of ‘It Ends With Us,’ which Justin directed and produced.
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Legal Teams React
Ryan attorneys, Mike Gottlieb and Esra Hudson, told CNN, “Mr. Reynolds has a First Amendment right to express his opinion of Mr. Baldoni.” Reynolds’ spokesperson added that the lawsuit is ‘silly’ and expressed confidence it will be dismissed.
Both parties have made it clear they do not intend to settle. The trial is set for March 2026. If Ryan’s request is denied, he could be called to testify in what might become one of Hollywood’s most talked-about legal showdowns.
