Blake Lively RESPONDS to Justin Baldoni’s $400 million defamation case; says, “A woman voices her experiences with solid proof & …”

Blake Lively’s legal team has responded strongly to Justin Baldoni’s $400 million lawsuit, labelling it as a retaliatory strategy and accusing him of employing the DARVO (Deny, Attack, Reverse Victim and Offender) tactics following her allegations of sexual harassment. Baldoni, who directed and starred in It Ends With Us, formally filed the detailed 179-page complaint against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and their publicist on January 16.

Blake Lively responds to lawsuit by Justin Baldoni

In response, the Gossip Girl actress’s lawyers issued a pointed statement, characterizing the lawsuit as a clear attempt to undermine her claims. They noted that this situation reflects a long-standing narrative where an abuser tries to shift blame onto the victim after she presents credible evidence of harassment. The team of Blake Lively emphasized that the lawsuit is a countermeasure to her earlier sexual harassment and retaliation claims against Justin Baldoni made in December.

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Lively’s attorney’s remark for the case

“This is a familiar tale: a woman voices her experiences with solid proof of harassment, and the perpetrator seeks to discredit her,” her attorneys remarked, pointing out that this approach exemplifies the DARVO strategy. Baldoni’s lawsuit alleges defamation, extortion, and breach of contract, asserting that Lively coerced Wayfarer into complying with her Return to Production Demands after industry strikes, using these demands to gain control over the film and suggest misconduct on set.

Lively’s legal representatives countered, stating that Baldoni’s accusations served as a diversion and highlighted that other cast members had their grievances against him. They noted that Sony had specifically selected Lively to finalize the film’s cut, which ultimately enjoyed significant success, backed by the studio.

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The legal team for the star of The Town described Baldoni’s countersuit as an attempt to cast blame on Lively, suggesting that it reduces her experiences to mere personal failings, rather than addressing the systemic abuse she reported. “This strategy of attacking the woman is desperate and does nothing to refute the solid evidence presented in Ms Lively’s claims, which will ultimately fail,” they stated.

In his complaint, Baldoni alleges that Lively interfered creatively, recounting an incident where he was invited to a meeting at the penthouse shared by Lively and Reynolds, attended by Lively’s friend Taylor Swift. He reported feeling subtly pressured to agree to a modified scene she proposed, which diverged significantly from the original script. When Baldoni hesitated, he claims that Lively ceased communication for several days before ultimately texting him that his reaction “didn’t feel great” to her.

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What happened?

The conflict began in December 2024 when Lively accused Baldoni of sexual harassment and launched a smear campaign against her following her report of his behaviour. Baldoni, who co-directed and co-starred in the film, has denied these allegations and countersued, presenting himself as a victim of a concerted effort to damage his reputation.

His legal team, led by prominent attorney Bryan Freedman, contends that their case includes untampered evidence, such as text messages, emails, and video recordings, that they believe invalidate Lively’s accusations. Meanwhile, Lively’s legal team maintains that her claims are firmly grounded in documented instances of harassment and retaliation.

Also Read: Justin Baldoni seeks THIS huge amount in defamation lawsuit against Blake Lively & Ryan Reynolds