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.

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.