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Ryan Reynolds Seeks Dismissal of Justin Baldoni’s $400 Million Defamation Lawsuit

Reynolds argues that his statements about Baldoni are protected under the First Amendment as opinion and not grounds for defamation claims.

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Justin Baldoni speaks onstage at the Vital Voices 12th Annual Voices of Solidarity Awards at IAC Building on Dec. 9, 2024, in New York City.

Overview

  • Ryan Reynolds filed a motion to dismiss Justin Baldoni's defamation lawsuit, claiming it is based on 'hurt feelings' and lacks legal merit.
  • Reynolds' legal team asserts that calling Baldoni a 'predator' is a constitutionally protected opinion, provided Reynolds genuinely believes it to be true.
  • Baldoni alleges that Reynolds used the Deadpool character 'Nicepool' to mock him and his public persona, which Reynolds' team has not denied but dismissed as non-actionable satire.
  • Baldoni's lawyer accuses Reynolds of orchestrating a smear campaign, including pressuring WME to drop Baldoni as a client and attempting to damage his career.
  • The legal battle stems from Blake Lively's initial sexual harassment lawsuit against Baldoni, with all parties preparing for a trial scheduled for March 2026.