Ryan Reynolds' Team Critiques Justin Baldoni's Lawsuit in Strong Response

Ryan Reynolds seeks dismissal from Justin Baldoni’s lawsuit. Reynolds described the lawsuit as "frivolous" through a spokesperson.

Motion for Dismissal

On March 18, the Deadpool actor filed a motion in a New York court. He aims to be removed from the $400 million civil extortion and defamation lawsuit. This legal action comes in response to Blake Lively’s sexual harassment and retaliation claims against Baldoni.

In the motion, Reynolds’ legal team rebuts Baldoni’s defamation assertions. The claims include that Reynolds labeled Baldoni a "predator" to a Hollywood agent.

Defense Against Allegations

"The entirety of Plaintiffs’ defamation claim appears based on alleged instances where Mr. Reynolds called Mr. Baldoni a ‘predator,’" the filing stated. "However, the allegations suggest Mr. Reynolds genuinely believes his comments to be accurate."

Reynolds’ legal team, featuring attorneys Mike Gottlieb and Esra Hudson, dismissed Baldoni’s $400 million claim as "a desperate effort." They argued that Baldoni intends to maintain a curated "bully" image in the ongoing conflict with Lively.

Legislative Gaps

"The Wayfarer Parties claim Mr. Reynolds extorted them," the filing elaborated. "Yet they offer no evidence that he gained money or property." They additionally assert interference with an unidentified contract without detail about its terms or the parties involved.

Reynolds’ attorneys further criticized the lawsuit: "They allege $400 million in damages without clarifying who experienced that loss or what caused it."

Background of Conflict

After Lively alleged sexual harassment and retaliation against Baldoni in December, he filed a counter-lawsuit on January 16. Baldoni’s lawsuit accuses Lively, Reynolds, and publicist Leslie Sloane of multiple claims including civil extortion, defamation, and false light invasion of privacy. Baldoni contends that it was Lively and her associates engaging in a smear campaign against him.

In response to Baldoni's lawsuit, Lively's attorneys characterized it as "another chapter in the abuser playbook."

Lively’s lawyers stated, "A woman speaks up with concrete evidence of misdeeds, and the abuser attempts to reverse roles." They described this approach as DARVO: Deny, Attack, Reverse Victim Offender.

Their statement concluded: "Attacking the woman is desperate. It doesn’t challenge the evidence in Ms. Lively’s complaint, and it will fail."

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