Just when you think the legal drama between Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively is coming to an end, more headlines pop up. On Halloween, it was reported that the It Ends With Us director missed the window to file an appeal in their explosive case that was dismissed in June. After his attorney, Bryan Freedman, denied the reports, they formally filed a motion.
According to Page Six, the 41-year-old formally filed to dismiss her $161 million lawsuit on Thursday. The move marks the latest chapter in what’s quickly become one of Hollywood’s most tangled and high-stakes legal battles.
In his filing, Baldoni argues that Lively, 38, can’t substantiate her claims, which include sexual harassment, retaliation, failure to investigate, aiding and abetting, defamation, false light, and conspiracy.
He also disputes her employment argument, maintaining that she “was an independent contractor, not an employee.”
Lively’s seeking damages of $161 million - including $56.2 million in lost earnings from acting, producing, and brand deals, nearly $49 million tied to her haircare brand Blake Brown, and $22 million from her drink line Betty Buzz/Betty Booze. She also alleges a $34 million reputational hit from what she calls 65 million negative online impressions.
But Baldoni’s team says her numbers are pure speculation. In the motion, they argue “no reasonable jury” could side with Lively because her damages lack “reasonable certainty” and are “imaginary.”
Last week, his attorney Freedman appeared on the 2 Angry Men podcast with Mark Geragos and Harvey Levin, calling TMZ's recent coverage “incorrect,” explaining that the judge hadn’t yet issued a final judgment - meaning there was no missed deadline at all.
Levin admitted the outlet “counted the wrong date” and corrected the report, while Geragos suggested the confusion may have come from Lively’s legal team, who allegedly spun the narrative to make it look like Baldoni had abandoned his case.
Freedman also said he and Baldoni are “excited about going to trial” and “happy with the evidence,” brushing off the online noise. Levin even noted that social media audiences have been “very fair” to Baldoni, crediting fans for “seeing through the noise.”
For now, Baldoni’s motion to dismiss Lively’s suit sets up a crucial next step before the scheduled March 2026 trial. Both stars are fighting not just over money, but over reputation, control, and credibility.
The pair’s feud stems from their time filming the 2024 romantic drama It Ends with Us, which Lively claims became a “toxic, inappropriate, and hostile” environment.
Her initial complaint accused Baldoni and his producing partner, Jamey Heath, of “unwelcome and sexually inappropriate behavior” and of orchestrating a smear campaign after she spoke out.
This all follows Baldoni’s $400 million countersuit against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and several media outlets - including The New York Times - which was dismissed in June 2025.
Judge Lewis J. Liman ruled that Lively’s statements were legally protected and found no evidence of defamation or extortion.