Blake Lively Wins Federal Dismissal of $400M Baldoni Countersuit

Blake Lively has emerged victorious after a federal judge dismissed Justin Baldoni's $400 million countersuit against her, which alleged extortion and defamation related to the film "It Ends With Us." Lively expressed gratitude and relief on social media, highlighting the challenges faced by many women who lack resources to fight retaliatory lawsuits. The judge ruled that Baldoni and his company failed to demonstrate wrongful extortion or defamation, affirming that Lively's allegations were part of a protected civil rights complaint and that The New York Times reported responsibly based on this complaint. In response, Lively reaffirmed her commitment to advocating for women's rights to speak up for their safety, sharing resources from organizations supporting women’s rights and legal protections. Meanwhile, Baldoni’s separate $250 million defamation lawsuit against The New York Times was also dismissed, with the newspaper stating it will vigorously defend the case. Despite this defeat, Baldoni has filed a motion to dismiss Lively's claims against him, with the judge yet to rule.