Ryan Reynolds has formally requested to be dropped from a $400 million defamation lawsuit filed by Justin Baldoni, escalating the legal drama tied to his wife Blake Lively’s ongoing battle with the It Ends With Us director and co-star.
In a filing submitted this week, Reynolds’ legal team argues that Baldoni’s claims against him lack legal merit, amounting to little more than “hurt feelings” and constitutionally protected opinions. The move marks the latest twist in a high-stakes feud that began with Lively’s allegations of sexual harassment against Baldoni, spiraling into a web of countersuits, public accusations, and a bitter clash over the film’s production.
The filing hit the courts on March 18, 2025, just as the saga—already a media firestorm—reached new heights of complexity. Reynolds, known for his Deadpool charm and business savvy, finds himself entangled in a legal quagmire that started last December when Lively accused Baldoni of inappropriate behavior on the set of their 2024 film. Baldoni’s subsequent $400 million countersuit, filed in January, named both Lively and Reynolds, along with their publicist Leslie Sloane, alleging defamation, extortion, and interference with his career. Reynolds’ motion to dismiss, reported widely by outlets like CNN and NBC News, asserts that his involvement is baseless, spotlighting a contentious subplot in an already explosive Hollywood narrative.
The Genesis of the Conflict: It Ends With Us
The roots of this legal tangle lie in the production of It Ends With Us, a film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s novel about domestic abuse. Released in August 2024, the movie grossed over $350 million globally, but behind-the-scenes tensions marred its success. Lively, who starred alongside Baldoni—who also directed—filed a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department in December 2024, alleging sexual harassment and retaliation. She claimed Baldoni improvised unwanted physical scenes, invaded her privacy, and later orchestrated a smear campaign to discredit her after she raised concerns.
Baldoni, through his company Wayfarer Studios, fired back with a lawsuit in New York federal court, accusing Lively of hijacking the film’s creative control and damaging his reputation. Reynolds, though not officially part of the production, was dragged into the fray. Baldoni alleges that Reynolds berated him at the couple’s New York home, accused him of “fat-shaming” Lively, and pressured talent agency WME to drop him by labeling him a “sexual predator.” The New York Times reported that these claims form the backbone of Baldoni’s case against Reynolds, who now seeks to extricate himself from what he calls a “frivolous” suit.
Reynolds’ Defense: Free Speech and Thin Claims
Reynolds’ legal team wasted no time in pushing back. In their filing, obtained by CNN, they argue that Baldoni’s lawsuit hinges on two instances where Reynolds allegedly called him a “predator”—once at a meeting and once to a WME executive. “Mr. Reynolds genuinely, perhaps passionately, believes that Mr. Baldoni’s behavior is reflective of a ‘predator,’” the filing states, asserting that such statements are opinions protected under the First Amendment. The lawyers dismiss Baldoni’s grievance as lacking substance, noting that nothing in the suit proves Reynolds didn’t believe his own words.
The filing also tackles Baldoni’s claim that Reynolds mocked him through the “Nicepool” character in Deadpool & Wolverine. Describing it as “thin-skinned outrage over a movie character,” Reynolds’ attorneys argue it “does not even pretend to be tied to any legal claims.” Fox News reported that this cinematic jab—speculated on X to mirror Baldoni’s traits—has become a flashpoint, though Reynolds’ team insists it’s irrelevant to defamation. A spokesperson for the actor told CNN, “We look forward to this lawsuit being dismissed,” signaling confidence in their stance.
Blake Lively’s Battle: The Heart of the Dispute
At the core of this legal storm is Lively’s initial allegations against Baldoni. Her December lawsuit, detailed by the New York Times, paints a picture of a hostile work environment on It Ends With Us. She accused Baldoni of unscripted kissing and touching, showing her nude photos of another producer’s wife, and entering her trailer uninvited while she changed or pumped breast milk. Lively, who gave birth less than four months before filming began, also alleged Baldoni ignored union rules on intimacy coordinators and pressured her to lose weight rapidly.
Baldoni’s countersuit flips the script, claiming Lively sought to wrest control of the film. He alleges she had Reynolds rewrite a pivotal rooftop scene—a revelation that stunned Sony executives when Lively later confirmed it in an E! News interview—without his consent. NBC News noted Baldoni’s assertion that this “hijacking” alienated the cast and crew, while his legal team released raw footage to dispute her harassment claims. Lively’s attorneys, in turn, call Baldoni’s suit “another chapter in the abuser playbook,” arguing it’s a retaliatory tactic to silence her.
Ryan Reynolds Requests to Be Dropped from Justin Baldoni’s Lawsuit: The Latest Move
The subheading echoes the crux of the moment: Ryan Reynolds requests to be dropped from Justin Baldoni’s lawsuit, a plea that could reshape the legal landscape of this feud. Filed on Tuesday, the motion contends that Reynolds’ inclusion stems not from actionable wrongdoing but from a vendetta by Baldoni’s business partner, Steve Sarowitz. According to Reynolds’ filing, Sarowitz—a defendant in Lively’s suit—allegedly vowed to spend $100 million to “ruin” the couple, a claim Baldoni’s team has not directly refuted. The New York Times reported that this financial threat looms large, suggesting a personal motive behind dragging Reynolds into the fray.
Reynolds’ attorneys further argue that Baldoni’s $400 million demand—spanning defamation, extortion, and interference—lacks evidence tying Reynolds to any concrete harm. “Mr. Reynolds has a First Amendment right to express his opinion of Mr. Baldoni,” they wrote, a point echoed by legal analysts on CNN who see it as a strong defense. If successful, the dismissal could narrow the case to Lively and Baldoni, sparing Reynolds from testifying in a trial set for March 2026—a spectacle that would captivate Hollywood and beyond.
The Ripple Effects: Careers and Reputations
The legal battle has already taken a toll. Baldoni, once a rising star from Jane the Virgin, was dropped by WME—where Lively and Reynolds are top clients—after her allegations surfaced. Though WME denied pressure from the couple, its CEO Ari Emanuel boasted of firing Baldoni on a podcast, per NBC News. Baldoni’s countersuit also targets the New York Times for a December story on Lively’s claims, which he calls libelous, folding that $250 million suit into his broader action against the couple.
For Lively and Reynolds, the stakes are personal and professional. Fox News quoted reputation expert Ryan McCormick saying Reynolds’ “nicest guy in Hollywood” image is “taking a little bruising,” though his filing’s defiance may bolster his loyal fanbase. Lively, meanwhile, has won a court order for “attorneys’ eyes only” discovery, per the Independent, shielding sensitive data after receiving “violent, profane” threats post-lawsuit. The couple’s rare public outing on February 16 at an SNL anniversary event, reported by E! News, showed unity amid the chaos.
Public Perception and Media Frenzy
The feud has ignited a media and social media storm. Posts on X reflect a polarized public—some laud Reynolds’ protective stance, others decry the couple as “Hollywood bullies” crushing “the small guy,” as one user put it. BBC coverage notes Baldoni’s team leaning into this narrative, releasing texts and footage to sway opinion. Lively’s camp counters that such leaks are unethical, a view Judge Lewis Liman has warned against, threatening to expedite the trial if press battles persist, per Newsweek.
The New York Times frames it as a perception war: “The real battle here isn’t about facts, it’s about perception,” wrote analyst Alexandra LaManna. With Baldoni’s attorney Bryan Freedman vowing no settlement—matched by Lively’s team—the saga promises to stretch on, fueled by dueling narratives and a voracious public appetite for drama.
Legal and Cultural Stakes
The case tests legal boundaries around free speech and defamation in the #MeToo era. Reynolds’ First Amendment argument, if upheld, could set a precedent for celebrity disputes, while Lively’s allegations spotlight workplace protections in Hollywood. NBC News legal analysts suggest Baldoni’s high damage claim may be a stretch, requiring proof of tangible loss—something his “hurt feelings” over Deadpool may not substantiate.
Culturally, it’s a referendum on power dynamics. The Guardian sees parallels to past Hollywood feuds, questioning whether Lively’s status amplifies her voice or Baldoni’s countersuit reframes her as the aggressor. With RFK Jr., now Health Secretary, backing the couple’s transparency push—per AP News—the political undertones add another layer to this blockbuster clash.
The Road Ahead: A Trial Looms
If Reynolds’ motion fails, he’ll be thrust into a 2026 trial alongside Lively, facing Baldoni’s team in a courtroom showdown. The New York Times predicts it’ll get “nastier” before any resolution, with discovery battles—like Baldoni resisting “invasive” subpoenas, per Fox News—already heating up. For now, Reynolds’ bid for dismissal hangs in the balance, a pivotal subplot in a saga that’s as much about justice as it is about Hollywood’s glittering veneer.
This article is based on reporting from BBC, CNN, NBC News, Fox News, the New York Times, Reuters, The Independent, Newsweek, The Guardian, AP News, E! Online, and other outlets, offering a panoramic view of a legal drama gripping the entertainment world.
