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\n Related: <\/span>‘The New York Times’ Responds to Justin Baldoni’s Defamation Lawsuit<\/span><\/a>
\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n\t\t\tJames Devaney\/GC Images The New York Times has denied Justin Baldoni\u2019s latest legal claims about its reported involvement in Blake Lively\u2019s lawsuit. \u201cThe Baldoni\/Wayfarer legal filings are rife with inaccuracies about The New York Times, including, for example, the bogus claim that The Times had early access to Ms. Lively\u2019s state civil rights complaint,\u201d a [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Baldoni was among 10 plaintiffs, which also includes publicists Melissa Nathan<\/strong> and Jennifer Abel<\/strong> as well as It Ends With Us<\/em> producers James Heath<\/strong> and Steve Saraowitz,<\/strong> who began legal proceedings against the New York Times<\/em> on New Year\u2019s Eve 2024.<\/p>\nThe plaintiffs sued for libel and false light invasion of privacy and alleged that the publication \u201ccherry-picked\u201d communications and omitted context in order to mislead readers in its article, which was published on December 21. The New York Times<\/em> disputes their reporting was unfair or inaccurate in their motion to dismiss.<\/p>\n\u201cOver the course of their 224-page First Amended Complaint (\u201cFAC\u201d) (plus an added 168-page timeline), the Wayfarer Parties breathlessly tell their side of an ongoing Hollywood drama involving actors Blake Lively (\u201cLively\u201d) and Justin Baldoni (\u201cBaldoni\u201d), the stars of the film It Ends With Us<\/em>,\u201d the courting filing submitted on Friday reads. \u201cThe FAC has, to some extent, achieved its obvious purpose; the Wayfarer Parties\u2019 story has been reported by countless news outlets during the last few weeks. What the FAC has not done, however, is plead a viable claim against The Times<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n![\"New](\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/new-york-times-files-to-be-dismissed-justin-baldoni-lawsuit-1928882045.jpg?w=1000&quality=86&strip=all\")
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\n Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively.<\/span> (Photo by Jose Perez\/Bauer-Griffin\/GC Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
Following the court filing, a spokesperson for Lively, 37, told Us Weekly<\/em> that their side agreed that the lawsuit against The New York Times<\/em> should be dropped.<\/p>\n\u201cIn its motion to dismiss, the New York Times<\/em> correctly calls out Justin Baldoni\u2019s lawsuit for what it is: a shameless PR document that has no business in a court of law,\u201d a Lively representative told Us.<\/em><\/p>\nThe spokesperson added: \u201cFor years, Baldoni urged men to listen to and believe women. But when a woman spoke out about his behavior, he and his billionaire backer Steve Sorowitz<\/strong> used a social media combat plan to scorch earth and try to \u2018bury\u2019 and \u2018destroy\u2019 her, along with the media who reports on it. These bullying tactics will not survive in court, and everyone should see their meritless claims for what they are.\u201d<\/p>\nUs Weekly<\/em> has reached out to Baldoni\u2019s representatives for comment.<\/p>\n
The plaintiffs sued for libel and false light invasion of privacy and alleged that the publication \u201ccherry-picked\u201d communications and omitted context in order to mislead readers in its article, which was published on December 21. The New York Times<\/em> disputes their reporting was unfair or inaccurate in their motion to dismiss.<\/p>\n \u201cOver the course of their 224-page First Amended Complaint (\u201cFAC\u201d) (plus an added 168-page timeline), the Wayfarer Parties breathlessly tell their side of an ongoing Hollywood drama involving actors Blake Lively (\u201cLively\u201d) and Justin Baldoni (\u201cBaldoni\u201d), the stars of the film It Ends With Us<\/em>,\u201d the courting filing submitted on Friday reads. \u201cThe FAC has, to some extent, achieved its obvious purpose; the Wayfarer Parties\u2019 story has been reported by countless news outlets during the last few weeks. What the FAC has not done, however, is plead a viable claim against The Times<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Following the court filing, a spokesperson for Lively, 37, told Us Weekly<\/em> that their side agreed that the lawsuit against The New York Times<\/em> should be dropped.<\/p>\n \u201cIn its motion to dismiss, the New York Times<\/em> correctly calls out Justin Baldoni\u2019s lawsuit for what it is: a shameless PR document that has no business in a court of law,\u201d a Lively representative told Us.<\/em><\/p>\n The spokesperson added: \u201cFor years, Baldoni urged men to listen to and believe women. But when a woman spoke out about his behavior, he and his billionaire backer Steve Sorowitz<\/strong> used a social media combat plan to scorch earth and try to \u2018bury\u2019 and \u2018destroy\u2019 her, along with the media who reports on it. These bullying tactics will not survive in court, and everyone should see their meritless claims for what they are.\u201d<\/p>\n Us Weekly<\/em> has reached out to Baldoni\u2019s representatives for comment.<\/p>\n<\/div>
\n Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively.<\/span> (Photo by Jose Perez\/Bauer-Griffin\/GC Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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