This morning, a judge granted a motion to dismiss the suit against Blake, Ryan Reynolds, publicist Leslie Sloane, and the New York Times. It essentially ruled that the allegations of sexual harassment that Blake made against Justin, stemming from their time working on It Ends With Us, constitute privileged speech.
Blake’s lawyers, Esra Hudson and Mike Gottlieb, said in a statement to BuzzFeed, “Today’s opinion is a total victory and a complete vindication for Blake Lively, along with those that Justin Baldoni and the Wayfarer Parties dragged into their retaliatory lawsuit, including Ryan Reynolds, Leslie Sloane and The New York Times. As we have said from day one, this “$400 million” lawsuit was a sham, and the Court saw right through it. We look forward to the next round, which is seeking attorneys’ fees, treble damages and punitive damages against Baldoni, Sarowitz, Nathan, and the other Wayfarer Parties who perpetrated this abusive litigation.”
Now, Blake herself is speaking out. On her Instagram story, she referenced the 19 organizations that wrote amicus briefs in support of her. She began, “Last week, I stood proudly alongside 19 organizations united in defending women’s rights to speak up for their safety.”
“Like so many others, I’ve felt the pain of a retaliatory lawsuit, including the manufactured shame that tries to break us. While the suit against me was defeated, so many don’t have the resources to fight back,” she continued.
“I’m more resolved than ever to continue to stand for every woman’s right to have a voice in protecting themselves, including their safety, their integrity, their dignity and their story,” she added. “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.”
Blake further noted that “there are protections out there,” and listed the 19 “incredible organizations”:
BuzzFeed has reached out to Justin Baldoni’s attorney for comment.