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Justin Baldoni's chief lawyer, Bryan Freedman, issued an official statement after Judge Liman dismissed their $400 million defamation lawsuit against Blake Lively. Baldoni filed the now-dismissed lawsuit against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and their publicist Leslie Sloane in January this year following the actress's sexual harassment allegations.
In a statement to Variety, Bryan Freedman claimed the latest development was not a "victory" for Blake Lively. He added that the legal battle is still ongoing and said:
"Ms. Lively and her team’s predictable declaration of victory is false, so let us be clear about the latest ruling. While the court dismissed the defamation-related claims, the court has invited us to amend four out of the seven claims against Ms. Lively, which will showcase additional evidence and refined allegations."
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Freedman added:
"This case is about false accusations of sexual harassment and retaliation and a nonexistent smear campaign, which Ms. Lively’s own team conveniently describes as ‘untraceable’ because they cannot prove what never happened."
Bryan Freedman also noted that Judge Liman's dismissal of their defamation claims does not mean Blake Lively's allegations against Justin Baldoni are proven. Lively's lawsuit against Baldoni, where she alleged sexual harassment, a retaliatory smear campaign, and inappropriate workplace behavior, is still ongoing.
"Most importantly, Ms. Lively’s own claims are no truer today than they were yesterday, and with the facts on our side, we march forward with the same confidence that we had when Ms. Lively and her cohorts initiated this battle and look forward to her forthcoming deposition, which I will be taking."
The media have played an important role in shaping public opinion about the Lively vs. Baldoni case. Multiple influencers have shared their views on the matter, while journalists have also shared their takes over the last few months. Freedman thanked them all and concluded by saying that they were "grateful for the organic show of support" from the public. He also thanked the "dedication of the internet sleuth community" for their coverage of the case.
Judge Liman's dismissal of Justin Baldoni's defamation lawsuit is a major triumph for Blake Lively. However, the legal battle seems far from over, with Freedman willing to amend the other claims. Moreover, Lively's lawsuit accusing Baldoni of alleged sexual harassment is still ongoing.
Bryan Freedman explains the next steps for Justin Baldoni after the judge dismisses Blake Lively's lawsuit
In an interview on TMZ Live, Bryan Freedman spoke at length about the next steps in the Justin Baldoni vs. Blake Lively legal battle. The lawyer explained that they are not giving up despite the recent setback and are looking forward to the next steps.
In the interview, Freedman said Justin Baldoni was not happy with the verdict either and considered it unfair. He said:
"What was Justin's reaction to it? The same as my reaction to it, which is: It's not fair. It's not right. I think that he's a person who wants to be vindicated, and that's all that he cares about. He knows who he is. He knows what he's done. He knows what he hasn't done. And he wants the truth to come out, and he wants to do that in the appropriate way. He's waiting for his day in court, where he can speak out to tell the truth."
Speaking further about the next steps in the legal battle, Bryan Freedman said that he will send a deposition to Blake Lively in June.
"The truth is going to be shown through depositions, which is what is going to be next. We're gonna proceed forward with the case, and we're going to show that there was no sexual harassment, and we're going to show that there was no smear campaign. It's really just that simple. It's unfortunate to be wrongfully accused here," Justin Baldoni's lawyer said.
Moreover, Bryan Freedman also mentioned he is afraid Blake Lively could "drop" her lawsuit against Justin Baldoni. He claimed that the Gossip Girl alum is on a "false victory tour" and is "afraid of the truth" after she took to her Instagram to share a message celebrating the court's latest dismissal of the defamation lawsuit.
Bryan Freedman also explained that he will expect Blake Lively to show up in court and answer his questions pertaining to "perjury." The lawyer added that they have enough evidence in terms of photos, videos, text messages, and emails, many of which were also included in their now-dismissed lawsuit.
Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively are set to face each other in court in March 2026. Further developments on the case are awaited.
