Blake Lively Fights Calls Justin Baldoni’s $400M Lawsuit ‘Sinister’
Blake Lively has asked a California judge to throw out Justin Baldoni’s massive defamation lawsuit against her. Her legal team is calling it what it is: a “sinister campaign” to ruin her. This all started after Lively accused Baldoni of sexual harassment on the set of “It Ends With Us.” That lawsuit was filed in late 2024. Soon after, Baldoni fired back with a $400 million countersuit, claiming Lively had defamed him.
But now, Lively’s filing says Baldoni’s countersuit is not about truth. It is about revenge. She says it is a PR stunt meant to punish her for speaking out. According to her legal docs, his lawsuit is “a blunt public relations instrument” meant to “bury and destroy” her. These are strong words, and they show she is not backing away quietly.
The Law Could Be on Lively’s Side
Here is where things get interesting. California’s Assembly Bill 933 might just be the game-changer. This law says if someone sues for defamation and loses, they have to pay the other side’s legal fees and damages.
Ends / IG / Looking at the lawsuit, it is apparent that if Baldoni can’t prove defamation, he could owe Blake Lively a whole lot of money.
And that is no small risk. Lively’s team clearly believes Baldoni’s case has holes. Her motion suggests that his claims are less about justice and more about image control. If the court agrees, Baldoni’s $400 million gamble could crash hard – and leave him with the bill.
The PR War Behind the Courtroom Drama
A 2024 article in The New York Times revealed that Baldoni hired a PR firm to help manage the fallout after Lively’s lawsuit. That firm allegedly led a coordinated campaign to wreck her image.
One crisis manager quoted in the article reportedly said, “You know we can bury anyone.” That chilling line now plays a key role in Lively’s argument. The actress claims that this entire backlash was carefully planned, not just organic internet outrage.
If true, it paints Baldoni’s countersuit as the final punch in a long PR fight.
Online Backlash Wasn’t Random!
Blake Lively faced a wave of hate online right after “It Ends With Us” hit theaters. Critics slammed her for “missing the point” of the film’s domestic violence themes. A clip from an old interview went viral again, showing her giving curt answers. The interviewer, Kjersti Flaa, even said the moment made her want to quit journalism.
This was not just random bad luck. Lively’s team thinks this was all part of a planned takedown. The idea? Smear her name so thoroughly that no one would believe her harassment claims. If Baldoni’s PR firm really did push that narrative, it is calculated.
Ends / IG / With Assembly Bill 933 in play, the risk for Baldoni is real. If his case falls apart, he could be paying big.
The Trial Is Set for 2026
The legal showdown is set for March 2026. That gives both sides time to build their cases, but the battle has already begun outside the courtroom. Lively’s motion is a clear message that she won’t let herself be silenced or smeared.
And Lively? She could come out stronger, not just legally, but in the public eye.
Blake Lively’s Fight Goes Beyond Hollywood
Blake Lively’s case is not just another celebrity feud. It is a test of what happens when someone speaks out and the system – and media – try to turn the story around. It is about power, reputation, and who gets to control the narrative.
As this case moves forward, it could shape how other stars – and everyday people – deal with public retaliation.