Actor and director Justin Baldoni is confronting fresh legal trouble after his $400 million countersuit collapsed earlier this year. A new complaint has now been filed against his production company, Wayfarer, under New York’s anti-SLAPP law, intensifying the already high-profile battle surrounding him.
The lawsuit was brought by a national newspaper that Baldoni had named in his failed countersuit. The paper is seeking damages for what it calls a baseless attempt to drag it into a feud that has already racked up heavy legal costs.
According to filings, the outlet spent at least $150,000 defending itself and is asking the court to order Baldoni’s team to cover those expenses, citing protections provided under the anti-SLAPP statute. The controversy traces back to December 2024, when actress Blake Lively accused Baldoni of sexual harassment while filming It Ends With Us.
Lively alleged that Baldoni retaliated by orchestrating a smear campaign designed to damage her reputation. The claims became the focus of a widely read investigative report, further fueling the public fallout.
In response, Baldoni filed an aggressive countersuit that not only targeted Lively but also named her husband, actor Ryan Reynolds, and their publicist. He accused them of defamation and extortion. The filing also included the newspaper that had reported on the case.
That strategy unraveled in June 2025 when Judge Lewis Liman dismissed the majority of Baldoni’s claims. The ruling left the actor with limited legal options and placed him in a weaker position moving forward.
Despite the setbacks, Baldoni has continued to maintain his innocence. He has repeatedly denied Lively’s allegations and has gone further, claiming that she engaged in the same conduct she accused him of. “Never acted inappropriately,” Baldoni has insisted, portraying himself as the target of false and damaging claims.
The latest filing by the newspaper underscores how the legal fight has broadened beyond the original harassment allegations. Legal experts note that New York’s anti-SLAPP law is designed to prevent public figures from using the courts to intimidate critics or media outlets. If successful, the paper’s claim could force Baldoni’s production company to shoulder significant additional costs.
The battle has drawn widespread attention in Hollywood, with both stars facing intense public scrutiny. For Baldoni, the mounting lawsuits threaten not only his finances but also his reputation in the industry. For Lively, the case continues to play out against the backdrop of her own high-profile career.
With neither side backing down, the case remains one of the most closely watched legal dramas in entertainment.