Justin Baldoni’s $400 Million Lawsuit Dismissed, Team Reassesses Strategy

A New York judge dismissed actor and director Justin Baldoni‘s $400 million countersuit against his co-star Blake Lively last week, prompting his team to enter a phase of reassessment. The ruling, issued by Judge Lewis Liman on October 31, followed Baldoni and his company, Wayfarer Studios, missing a crucial deadline to refile their case by October 17. This dismissal marks the final closure of a legal battle that began with Baldoni’s original lawsuit filed in January 2025, which accused Lively of creating a hostile work environment and making defamatory claims.

The court had previously dismissed Baldoni’s lawsuit in June, but left open the possibility for him to amend and refile. However, the failure to submit an amended complaint by the specified date led to the case being dismissed permanently. Lively was the only party to respond to the dismissal, successfully requesting that it be finalized while also keeping her request for attorneys’ fees active.

After the initial dismissal, Baldoni’s team asserted that the ruling had no bearing on the truth of the allegations, emphasizing their defense against Lively’s claims. Baldoni’s original lawsuit included allegations of extortion and defamation against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and The New York Times. This action followed Lively’s claims that Baldoni had participated in sexual harassment and attempted to orchestrate a smear campaign against her during the filming of “It Ends With Us.”

Public relations expert Grayce McCormick from Lightfinder Public Relations provided insights into the implications of this latest ruling. “The dismissal was not a ruling in favor of Blake Lively on the merits,” McCormick stated. “It was a procedural ruling tied to missed refile deadlines and privilege protections. The financial side remains live, and Lively’s underlying case is still headed toward a March 2026 trial, so the narrative is far from settled.”

Reassessing the Narrative

McCormick indicated that Baldoni’s team must now recalibrate their public narrative. “From a PR perspective, the dismissal wasn’t about guilt or innocence; it was procedural. But in the public eye, those nuances blur. It can look like a retreat, which means his team has to refocus the narrative around his work and integrity.”

In light of this legal setback, Baldoni’s team is reportedly tightening messaging and shifting focus back to his creative endeavors. Following months of courtroom headlines, McCormick emphasized the need to remind the public of Baldoni’s primary contributions as a storyteller, rather than allowing the narrative to be overshadowed by legal disputes. “The best advice right now is to say less and create more,” she advised. “Keep statements brief and avoid emotional reactions. The public has a short attention span, but authenticity has a long shelf life.”

In a statement regarding the dismissal, Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, remarked, “At this point, we have to set the record straight: no deadlines were missed. Our clients chose not to amend their complaint to preserve appeal rights.” Freedman also stated that his team remains committed to pursuing the truth regarding Lively’s claims and looks forward to their day in court. He expressed concern over the media’s portrayal of the case, asserting that “the truth regarding this case continues to be completely distorted in the media,” particularly in relation to the recent ruling.

As the legal landscape continues to evolve, both Baldoni and Lively are preparing for a prolonged public discourse surrounding their allegations, with implications that could extend well into the future.