Drama in Tinseltown is heating up as Justin Baldoni's attorney puts Ryan Reynolds on blast amid the 'Deadpool' actor's attempt to dismiss defamation lawsuit.
- Mar 20, 2025
AceShowbiz - The legal battle between "It Ends With Us" director Justin Baldoni and "Deadpool" star Ryan Reynolds has reached a boiling point.
Baldoni's attorney, Bryan Freedman, has responded vehemently to Reynolds' recent motion to have himself dismissed from the lawsuit, which also includes Reynolds' wife, Blake Lively, and their publicist, Leslie Sloane.
Freedman accused Reynolds of trying to "run from the flames" after igniting them. According to a statement obtained by People, Freedman claimed, "Mr. Reynolds was a key player in the scheme, defaming Justin around Hollywood, strong-arming WME into dropping Justin as a client, and trying to destroy Justin's career however possible."
The lawsuit, initially filed in January, alleges that Reynolds called Baldoni a "predator" and pressured talent agency WME to sever ties with him. Reynolds' attorneys, Mike Gottlieb and Esra Hudson, filed a motion to dismiss, arguing that Baldoni's defamation claims lack legal merit.
They maintained that Reynolds acted within his First Amendment rights, stating, "That is not defamation unless they can show that Mr. Reynolds did not believe that statement to be true."
In his response, Baldoni's lawyer also highlighted Reynolds' appearance at the "Saturday Night Live 50" special, where he made a joke about the legal battle.
Freedman insisted, "Mr. Reynolds can appear on as many sketch shows as he wants and feebly try to make light of his current situation, but we will not stop until he is held accountable for his actions."
In her own lawsuit, Blake Lively accused Justin Baldoni of alleged sexual harassment on the set of "It Ends With Us" and smear campaign. Baldoni has vehemently denied these allegations.
Despite WME denying they were pressured by Reynolds to drop Baldoni, Freedman remains adamant that Reynolds' influence played a significant role. The courtroom battle is set to intensify, with the next trial date scheduled for March 2026.
Reps for all parties involved were unavailable for immediate comment, and this legal saga is far from over.
