In a dramatic turn following a legal setback, actor Justin Baldoni has decided not to amend his $400 million lawsuit against Hollywood couple Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds after a judge dismissed the case. Instead, Baldoni plans to explore alternative legal strategies, signaling a shift in his courtroom approach.
The Jane the Virgin star had initially filed the massive defamation suit in connection with a conflict involving his production company, Wayfarer Studios. But after the judge ruled against the claim, Baldoni is now choosing not to amend and refile, as previously indicated by his legal team.
According to Page Six, Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, stated, “The Court’s decision on the motion to dismiss has no effect whatsoever on the truth that there was no harassment nor any smear campaign, and it does not in any way affect our vigorous defense against Ms. Lively’s claims.”
Freedman further emphasized, “Discovery is proceeding and we are confident that we will prevail against these factually baseless accusations.” He added that rather than modifying the initial complaint, Baldoni “will be pursuing additional legal options that are available to us.”
The nature of those additional legal avenues has not been disclosed, but the move reflects a clear pivot in strategy as the legal battle continues. Lively’s camp, however, is hailing the dismissal as a major win. Her spokesperson released a strongly worded response: “The Court dismissed the frivolous $400 million Baldoni-Wayfarer lawsuit in its entirety.”
The spokesperson went on to criticize Baldoni’s legal team for previously suggesting they would refile the suit, only to abandon that plan. “As per usual, that was not true. The Court’s dismissal of Baldoni’s sham lawsuit was a total victory after all,” the statement concluded.
The dispute has generated significant attention, not only because of the eye-popping monetary figure attached to Baldoni’s original claim, but also due to the high-profile names involved.
With both parties now pushing forward in different directions—Baldoni through new legal channels and Lively defending against what her side describes as meritless claims—the case remains a developing saga in the world of celebrity litigation.
While no timeline has been set for the next phase of Baldoni’s legal response, his team’s promise to “pursue additional options” suggests that the courtroom battle is far from over.