Blake Lively is seeking millions from Justin Baldoni over his “baseless” lawsuit against her, and one of the declarations her team has provided is likely of interest.
The general gist of the legal drama thus far is that in December 2024, Blake filed a California Civil Rights Department complaint against Justin, her It Ends With Us co-star and director, who she then went on to sue. She alleged that Justin and his colleagues (“The Wayfarer parties”) engaged in sexual harassment and a subsequent retaliatory smear campaign. Justin then sued her in response, alleging, among other things, defamation for her claims.
Then, in June of this year, Justin’s countersuit was dismissed. The judge ruled that Blake’s sexual harassment claims against him constituted “privileged” speech under California law. Basically, California has a rule that you can’t be sued for defamation if you make a serious allegation of sexual harassment. It’s designed to protect victims from being further abused by the legal system, such as a scenario where someone might keep quiet due to fears of never-ending legal fees.
Yesterday, Blake’s lawyers filed a motion arguing that, as Justin’s countersuit was dismissed, she counts as a “prevailing defendant” under the California code and is entitled to a lot of money. Specifically, the attorneys’ fees and costs she incurred while defending herself from the countersuits, “treble damages for the harm” caused for the “retaliatory ‘defamatory action,'” and “punitive damages” to deter similar behavior in the future.
Her team argues, “The Wayfarer Parties’ defamation action against Blake Lively was baseless from the start. Despite repeated warnings about the impropriety of their legal claims, and the consequences of continuing to pursue them, the Wayfarer Parties refused to back down. Instead, they stoked the flames of public sentiment, posting their retaliatory lawsuit on a public website alongside dozens of heavily redacted and context-free exhibits masquerading as ‘receipts,’ to flood the zone with vicious character attacks on Ms. Lively designed to damage her credibility and to conceal their own unlawful acts.”
They then provided a signed declaration in support of their motion. It is signed by someone who alleges, “I had repeated, negative interactions with Mr. Baldoni and his associates, including verbal abuse by Mr. Baldoni…[Redacted] Mr. Baldoni not be permitted on set during the majority of production as a result of those experiences.”
The declaration continues, “I requested that he not be involved in [redacted] marketing or public relations efforts.” They then provide alleged evidence, which is currently under seal. A source close to the case told BuzzFeed that the declarant is likely to testify in the trial.
In reference to the motion for attorney’s fees, a spokesperson for Blake told BuzzFeed, “California law expressly prohibits suing victims who speak out against sexual harassment or retaliation, whether in court or in the press. The statute also includes a mandatory fee-shifting provision, requiring those who file frivolous defamation claims to pay damages. The Wayfarer Parties’ failed plan to sue Blake Lively ‘into oblivion’ has only created greater liability for them, and rightly so. Sadly, Ms. Lively is not alone in facing a retaliatory defamation suit after speaking out about harassment at work. That is precisely why California enacted AB 933: to make clear that survivors are protected when they speak up, and that those who weaponize the legal system to silence them will be held accountable, not just for attorneys’ fees, but for treble damages and punitive damages as well.”
BuzzFeed has reached out to representatives for Blake and Justin respectively for comment.
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