In a significant development in the ongoing legal battle, Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds are asking a judge to dismiss Justin Baldoni’s defamation lawsuit against them. Attorneys for both sides are scheduled to make their first court appearance tomorrow (February 3) for a hearing. A trial is currently set for March 2026. Lively’s legal team filed a notice for dismissal last week.
According to a report from Variety, the notice was filed on Thursday (January 30). New York Judge Lewis Liman had requested a letter indicating the defendants’ intent to move for dismissal in one sentence. The couple’s lawyer, Michael J. Gottlieb, confirmed the move, stating, “The Lively-Reynolds Parties intend to move to dismiss Plaintiffs’ complaint.”
Leslie Sloane, the publicist named in Baldoni’s lawsuit, also filed a similar motion on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Baldoni’s legal team launched a website titled “Lawsuit Info,” claiming it contains evidence to support their case. The site includes an alleged “timeline of events,” text messages between the parties, and other details. It alleges discussions between Lively and Baldoni about reworking a key scene and claims that Lively and Reynolds demanded Baldoni take public responsibility for negative press against the 37-year-old actress.
Baldoni’s team wrote in a statement: “It Ends With Us was a troubled production which we take full accountability for. Blake Lively, Colleen Hoover, the entire cast, and crew led with professionalism every step of the way. Any negativity aimed at them is ours to own. We have always said we are not perfect and even if we unintentionally make mistakes, we always own them.”
The website also includes text messages allegedly sent between Baldoni and Reynolds. One message reads: “You’ve hit the jackpot with B. She literally passes on every film and every filmmaker all the time. I’m excited for Blake to crack open her creative piggy bank with someone as dynamic as you. This is gonna be INCREDIBLE. Looking forward to seeing you. And thank you again for all you’re doing. I happen to adore you, Justin xo.”
Lively’s lawyer, Michael Gottlieb, had previously warned about the planned website, stating that it would release “full unedited WhatsApp, text, and email exchanges between Lively and Baldoni.” However, he cautioned that the public and media would have no way of knowing which communications might have been selectively omitted or deleted by Baldoni’s legal team.
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