Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds Win as Defamation Lawsuit is Dismissed

Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds have emerged victorious in a legal battle as a judge dismissed a staggering $400 million defamation lawsuit brought against them by actor and director Justin Baldoni. The lawsuit stemmed from a social media post regarding a promotional video for Baldoni’s Mezcal brand, Casa Lumbre.

Baldoni claimed that Lively and Reynolds, through Reynolds’ company Maximum Effort Marketing, damaged his reputation and business by sharing a promotional video he created. He alleged that their commentary implied the video was sexually suggestive and glorified underage drinking. However, the judge sided with the celebrity couple, asserting that the shared content was clearly satirical and not meant to be taken as factual statements.

The initial social media post that triggered the lawsuit featured Lively and Reynolds reacting to Baldoni’s Mezcal ad. Baldoni argued that their comments led to significant financial losses and reputational harm. He sought substantial damages to compensate for the alleged defamation.

Reynolds and Lively’s legal team contended that their social media activity was protected under free speech laws, emphasizing that their comments were obviously humorous and satirical. The court agreed, noting that a reasonable person would interpret the post as a lighthearted joke rather than a serious accusation.

This dismissal marks a significant win for Lively and Reynolds, shielding them from what could have been a costly and reputationally damaging legal battle. The judge’s decision underscores the importance of satire and comedic expression in social commentary, affirming that public figures can engage in humorous critiques without fear of crippling defamation lawsuits, provided the context makes it clear that the statements are not intended as assertions of fact.

Representatives for both Baldoni and Lively and Reynolds have yet to release official statements following the court’s decision.