Ryan Reynolds Fires Back at Justin Baldoni in $400 Million Legal Feud
Oh, the drama of Hollywood lawsuits—where accusations fly faster than a Deadpool quip and $400 million is just a casual number thrown around. Ryan Reynolds, ever the master of wit both on and off-screen, has officially asked a New York court to dismiss him from Justin Baldoni’s defamation and extortion lawsuit, calling it “frivolous” with the kind of confidence only a man who’s faced Thanos can muster. The lawsuit, filed by Baldoni in January, accuses Reynolds, his wife Blake Lively, and her publicist of orchestrating a smear campaign against him, alleging defamation, false light invasion of privacy, and civil extortion. But Reynolds’ legal team isn’t having it, arguing that Baldoni’s claims are as flimsy as a poorly constructed rom-com plot.
The crux of Baldoni’s defamation claim hinges on Reynolds allegedly calling him a “predator” in conversations with a Hollywood agent. Reynolds’ attorneys, however, argue that even if he did use the term, there’s no evidence he didn’t genuinely believe it. “Perhaps passionately,” they add, because nothing says “defamation defense” like a sprinkle of sarcasm. They also point out that Baldoni’s lawsuit fails to specify key details, like which contract was allegedly interfered with or how exactly $400 million in damages was calculated. It’s almost as if someone forgot to do their homework before filing.
This legal tussle stems from a December 2024 complaint filed by Lively, accusing Baldoni of sexual harassment and retaliation during the production of *It Ends With Us*. Baldoni, in turn, claims Lively and her team launched a “vile smear campaign” against him, a narrative Lively’s attorneys dismiss as classic DARVO (Deny, Attack, Reverse Victim and Offender) tactics. “This is an age-old story,” they said, “and it will fail.”
Meanwhile, Reynolds’ motion to dismiss paints Baldoni’s lawsuit as a desperate attempt to salvage his reputation, calling it a “curated ‘bully’ image” designed to deflect from Lively’s allegations. The filing also notes that Baldoni’s claims of extortion fall flat, as there’s no evidence Reynolds received any money or property. It’s almost as if someone forgot to read the definition of extortion before hitting “send” on the lawsuit.
As the legal battle rages on, one thing is clear: Hollywood’s courtroom dramas are far more entertaining than most of its recent box office flops.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and E! Online
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