Justin Baldoni’s $400 million defamation countersuit against Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds has officially been concluded by a U.S. District Court judge, adding another chapter to the ongoing It Ends With Us legal saga.

Judge Ends Baldoni’s Countersuit

On October 31, 2025, U.S. District Court Judge Lewis Liman issued an order formally ending Baldoni’s countersuit, filed alongside his production company, Wayfarer Studios. The case had been dismissed in June 2025, and Baldoni missed the deadline to file an amended complaint, prompting the judge to enter final judgment.

According to court documents, Lively was the only party to respond to the judge’s October 17 notice, requesting a final judgment while keeping her request for legal fees active—a request the court approved.

Background: The Legal Battle

The dispute began in December 2024 when Blake Lively sued Baldoni for alleged misconduct on the set of It Ends With Us and a retaliatory smear campaign—claims Baldoni denies. Baldoni responded with a countersuit against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, their publicist, and The New York Times, alleging extortion and defamation. The countersuit sought $400 million, while a separate $250 million defamation case targeted The New York Times.

In June 2025, Judge Liman dismissed Baldoni’s cases, citing California law protecting legally filed sexual harassment claims and finding insufficient evidence to support defamation claims against Reynolds, Lively’s publicist, or The New York Times.

Reactions from Lively and Baldoni

Blake Lively shared her thoughts on Instagram following the June dismissal, reflecting on the emotional toll of retaliatory lawsuits. “While the suit against me was defeated, so many don’t have the resources to fight back,” she wrote. Lively also emphasized her continued commitment to advocating for women’s rights, safety, and dignity.

Her attorneys called the dismissal a “total victory and a complete vindication,” describing Baldoni’s $400 million countersuit as “a sham.”

Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, previously called Lively’s statement a “predictable declaration of victory” and maintained that the case centered on “false accusations of sexual harassment and retaliation and a nonexistent smear campaign.”

What’s Next

Despite the dismissal of Baldoni’s countersuit, Lively’s original lawsuit remains ongoing. A trial for the remaining claims has been scheduled for March 2026, keeping the high-profile legal battle in the public eye.