Justin Baldoni has urged a judge to reject Ryan Reynolds’ motion to dismiss a $400 million defamation lawsuit
In another twist to the bitter court fight, filmmaker Justin Baldoni has urged a judge to reject Ryan Reynolds’ motion to dismiss a $400 million defamation lawsuit.

Justin Baldoni has urged a judge to reject Ryan Reynoldsâ motion to dismiss a $400 million defamation lawsuit.
Arguing the âDeadpoolâ actor was a key player in an alleged smear campaign. Justin, 41, and his company, Wayfarer Studios, filed a legal response on Tuesday (01.04.25) April that has just now come to light, insisting Ryan, 48, should not be removed from the lawsuit.
The filing, submitted to Judge Lewis J. Liman, argued: âThe FAC specifically alleges ample facts to support the Wayfarer Partiesâ claims against him, based on both his direct actions and his liability as a co-conspirator.â
The legal dispute stems from allegations made by Ryanâs wife, Blake Lively, 37, against Justin.
Blake, who starred alongside Baldoni in âIt Ends With Usâ, sued the filmmaker in December 2024, alleging sexual harassment and a retaliatory smear campaign. Baldoni has denied the claims and countersued for defamation and extortion.
A spokesperson for Ryan responded on Wednesday (03.04.25), stating: âThey once again claim defamation without alleging who was defamed, what specifically was said, or how anyone suffered actual harm.â
The spokesperson added: âUnlike Mr Baldoni, who built his brand pretending to be a man who is âconfident enough to listenâ to the women in his life, Ryan Reynolds actually is that man and he will continue to support his wife.â
Ryanâs legal team, led by Mike Gottlieb and Esra Hudson, first sought to dismiss the lawsuit in March, arguing Justinâs case âappears to be based on Mr Reynolds allegedly privately calling Mr Baldoni a âpredatorâ, but hereâs the problem â that is not defamation unless they can show that Mr Reynolds did not believe that statement to be true.â
Justinâs lawyer, Bryan Freedman, dismissed Ryanâs motion to dismiss, claiming: âHis fingerprints have been all over this smear campaign against Justin and the Wayfarer team since day one.â
Justinâs latest filing referenced a comment made by Ryan at a press conference in July 2024.
It was: âIâve realised that Iâm too big to fail at this point, so I just crush my enemies and drink their blood.â The remark, made as a joke during a discussion with Hugh Jackman, was cited in an effort to illustrate Justinâs claims.
Meanwhile, Blake has also filed a motion to dismiss Justinâs countersuit, describing it as âvengeful and ramblingâ.
Justinâs legal team has called her motion âabhorrentâ.
The trial is scheduled to begin in March 2026.