Justin Baldoni’s legal team has countered Ryan Reynolds’ request to be dismissed from a $400 million lawsuit filed by Baldoni. The dispute involves claims of defamation and extortion, brought forth as a counter-lawsuit after Blake Lively accused Baldoni of sexual harassment and initiating a smear campaign against her. Baldoni has denied these allegations.
Ryan Reynolds sought dismissal from Baldoni’s lawsuit, with his attorneys arguing that Baldoni’s claims largely revolve around Reynolds allegedly calling him a “predator” in private. The defense contends that this does not amount to defamation unless it can be proven that Reynolds did not believe his statement to be true, asserting that Reynolds genuinely believes Baldoni fits that characterization.
On April 1, Baldoni’s legal team, in conjunction with Wayfarer Studios, submitted a response urging Judge Lewis J. Liman to keep Reynolds as a part of the suit. Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, criticized Reynold’s dismissal request, labeling him as a pivotal figure in a purported campaign against Baldoni and Wayfarer from the beginning.
The response from Baldoni’s legal team challenges Reynolds’ portrayal of his involvement, arguing that their amended complaint establishes sufficient grounds for Reynolds’ liability, both through his direct actions and as a co-conspirator. They claim that Reynolds and Lively used false insinuations to unlawfully gain influence over the Wayfarer Parties.
The filing states that Reynolds and Lively, along with others, engaged in a concerted effort to exaggerate neutral interactions to support a false narrative of sexual harassment to frighten the Wayfarer Parties and manipulate power dynamics.
In the event Reynolds is dismissed, Baldoni’s attorneys argue that he should not be reimbursed for any legal fees. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Reynolds has issued a response.
In a statement dated April 3, Reynolds’ spokesperson remarked that the Wayfarer parties are recognizing the deficiencies in their complaint. The statement criticized the lawsuit for lacking clarity on who was defamed, the specific defamatory statements, and the actual harm incurred.
The spokesperson continued to contrast Reynolds with Baldoni, asserting that Reynolds genuinely supports his wife as she confronts those who allegedly harassed her and then retaliated. They suggested that under various legal jurisdictions in the U.S., the lawsuit is not only baseless but might result in the Wayfarer Parties covering Reynolds’ legal expenses.