Title: Blake Lively Condemns Justin Baldoni’s ‘Shameless’ Lawsuit, Backs NYT’s $250M Legal Move

This version retains key details, removes subjective commentary, and emphasizes the lawsuit’s financial stakes while clarifying Lively’s stance.

Blake Lively Backs NYT in $250M Defamation Battle Against Justin Baldoni
[Image: Blake Lively at an event in February 2024]

Blake Lively is supporting The New York Times as it fights to dismiss a $250 million defamation lawsuit filed by actor-director Justin Baldoni. The lawsuit stems from a December 2023 NYT article detailing Lively’s allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct against Baldoni during the production of their film It Ends With Us.

Legal Standoff
The NYT filed a motion in a New York federal court on Friday, defending its reporting as “fair and accurate” and arguing Baldoni’s claims are a “one-sided” attempt to drag the publication into a personal feud. A spokesperson for Lively echoed this, calling the lawsuit a “shameless PR document” designed to silence her and discredit the media.

[Image: Justin Baldoni on a film set in 2023]

The NYT’s December 21 article, We Can Bury Anyone: Inside a Hollywood Smear Machine, highlighted Lively’s accusations, including claims that Baldoni improvised unapproved intimate scenes and entered her trailer uninvited. Baldoni’s legal team countered by suing the NYT, Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and publicist Leslie Sloane, alleging a coordinated smear campaign.

Key Allegations
Lively’s complaint, filed with the California Civil Rights Department, accuses Baldoni of boundary violations, such as showing her graphic footage of his wife’s childbirth and pressuring her during filming. Baldoni denies the claims, arguing the NYT article cherry-picked communications to mislead readers. His team also alleges Lively fabricated the accusations to rehabilitate her public image after criticism of her on-set behavior.

[Image: Lively and Reynolds at a premiere in August 2024]

Recent Legal Moves
A judge recently blocked Lively’s request for Baldoni’s phone records from 2022–2023, deeming it overly intrusive. However, the court allowed revised subpoenas, noting Baldoni’s privacy concerns. Meanwhile, Lively enlisted Nick Shapiro, a former CIA deputy chief of staff turned crisis manager, to handle PR strategy.

NYT’s Defense
The NYT maintains its reporting was protected under “fair report” privilege, emphasizing its role in covering Lively’s official complaint. “Mr. Baldoni’s campaign will not silence us,” said NYT spokesperson Danielle Rhoades Ha.

[Image: Scene from It Ends With Us featuring Lively and Baldoni]

Ongoing Feud
The legal battle has escalated with Baldoni launching a website (thelawsuitinfo.com) sharing private communications to counter Lively’s claims. The film, a box-office hit, is now overshadowed by the dispute, with a trial set for March 2026.

[Image: Court documents displayed on a laptop]

As both sides prepare for a protracted fight, the case underscores tensions between #MeToo-era accountability and claims of media manipulation in Hollywood.