Blake Lively Speaks Out After Judge Dismisses Justin Baldoni’s $400M Countersuit

In what may be a substantial public response, actor Blake Lively has reacted to victory in court: Judge Lewis J. Liman has dismissed Justin Baldoni’s $400 million countersuit against her, her husband Ryan Reynolds, her publicist Leslie Sloane, and The New York Times. In January 2025, Baldoni filed a lawsuit for extortion, defamation, and invasion of privacy—the lawsuit itself set off a firestorm of hostility, an escalated level in their fight connected to the movie It Ends With Us .

“Like many of you, I’ve felt the sting of a retaliatory lawsuit, including the faked shame to try to reduce us…. I’m more determined than ever to advocate for every woman’s right to have a voice in practicing self-defense…”

She also attached a handpicked list of organizations to contact for support, and shared three organizations including the California Women’s Law Center, CHILD USA, and Equal Rights Advocates, encouraging followers to obtain legal and emotional support.

Legal vindication and ramifications

Judge Liman ruled that most of Baldoni’s allegations were covered by privileged communications as a result of Lively’s original complaint with the California Civil Rights Department.

He made a clear distinction that only a small handful of Baldoni’s and Lively’s claims could be amended and then refiled by June 23, and that Baldoni’s original trial is now scheduled for March 2026.

Lively’s lawyers celebrated as it was the “total victory and complete vindication,” but also recognized how important it to protect survivors who wish to speak up, especially where counter suits may be used as intimidation techniques.

A statement that resonates in the long term

Outside of the courtroom, Lively’s message resonated widely in the entertainment industry; she fought for women’s rights, mental health, and dignity, while also perfectly recreating the conversation from abuse to systemic abuse in Hollywood, like workplace harassment, utilizing the legal system as a shield to maintain abuse.

Defenders, including other actors such as Jenny Slate, Amber Tamblyn, Alexis Bledel and author Colleen Hoover, as well as Blakes’s other defenders have reiterated her statement publicly to show the cohort implications of her statement.

Blake Lively’s emotional yet firm statement represents more than just another court decision, but also a much-needed discussion about legal retaliation in the context of abuse. For the duration of the case, her leadership will be an important factor in how survivors choose to stand their ground.

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