Blake Lively is finally breaking her silence after scoring a major legal victory in court – and she’s doing it with a message that goes far beyond her own case. On June 9, hours after a judge threw out Justin Baldoni’s massive $400 million countersuit against her, Ryan Reynolds, their publicist Leslie Sloane, and The New York Times, the actress took to Instagram with a personal and powerful reaction.
“Like so many others, I’ve felt the pain of a retaliatory lawsuit, including the manufactured shame that tries to break us,” Lively wrote on her Instagram Stories. “While the suit against me was defeated, so many don’t have the resources to fight back.” Her words resonated immediately online, signaling that while the legal battle may be over, her fight for women’s rights and free speech continues.
The Gossip Girl alum didn’t stop there. She used the opportunity to highlight the broader issue of how women – especially in the entertainment industry – are often targeted with legal threats meant to silence or shame them. “I’m more resolved than ever to stand for every woman’s right to have a voice in protecting themselves,” she added, before sharing a list of resources and organizations that work on causes like women’s rights, domestic violence, and employment law.
This all comes after a federal judge, Lewis J. Liman, dismissed Baldoni’s sweeping legal claims. In his lawsuit, the It Ends With Us director had accused Lively of “stealing” the 2024 film project from him and Wayfarer Studios and allegedly threatening to “attack” him in the media if her demands weren’t met. But the judge found that none of that added up to anything legally actionable.
According to court documents, Liman concluded that the so-called threats were more likely “legally permissible hard bargaining or renegotiation of working conditions,” and not “wrongful extortion” as Baldoni’s team had claimed. In plain terms, Lively was just fighting for fair terms – not breaking the law.
The lawsuit didn’t stop at Lively, though. Baldoni also claimed that Reynolds, Sloane, and even The New York Times conspired to damage his reputation by falsely suggesting he had committed sexual misconduct toward Lively. The December article at the center of the claim was cited as part of the alleged defamation effort.
But again, Judge Liman wasn’t buying it. In the court’s dismissal, he stated that Baldoni and Wayfarer’s legal team didn’t provide evidence that Reynolds, Sloane, or The Times had reason to believe the statements in question were false. Without that kind of proof, defamation doesn’t stick – especially not under U.S. law, where the bar for proving it is very high when public figures are involved. A separate $250 million lawsuit filed against The New York Times was also tossed out.
As of now, Baldoni has until June 23 to file an amended complaint if he chooses to keep pursuing the matter. Meanwhile, neither Baldoni nor his legal reps have made a public statement since the dismissal, despite E! News reaching out for comment.
Lively’s fans, on the other hand, are celebrating the outcome. Her response has only added to her reputation for not only being a talented actress but also someone willing to use her platform for change. With the legal storm behind her – at least for now – she’s made it clear that her focus is on advocacy, not drama.
Blake’s message ended on a note of gratitude, saying, “With love and gratitude for the many who stood by me. Many of you I know. Many of you I don’t. But I will never stop appreciating or advocating for you.” It’s a statement that reflects strength, grace, and a desire to use her platform to uplift others going through similar battles.
- Blake Lively Reacts to Legal Win Against Baldoni - June 10, 2025
- Court Destroys Baldoni’s $400M Revenge Lawsuit - June 10, 2025
- Court Destroys Baldoni’s $400M Revenge Lawsuit - June 10, 2025
