Blake Lively Agrees New York Times Should Exit Justin Baldoni’s “One-Sided” Legal War With Her & Ryan Reynolds – Update

deadline.com:

(Updated 4:46 pm PT with Blake Lively statement) The New York Times‘ December 21 exposé headlined “We Can Bury Anyone: Inside a Hollywood Smear Machine” turned up the heat on Justin Baldoni and his PR team over sexual harassment and retaliation allegations made by Blake Lively surrounding the making of It Ends With Us.

Now, thousands of pages of legal filings later and with a trial date set for March 29, 2026 in New York, the Times is writing a different type of story. “The Wayfarer Parties’ FAC tells a one-sided tale that has garnered plenty of headlines,” the media company declared in a filing Friday asking to be removed from Baldoni’s $400 million lawsuit. “But The Times does not belong in this dispute.” Blake Lively agrees with her fellow defendant. “In its motion to dismiss, the New York Times correctly calls out Justin Baldoni’s lawsuit for what it is: a shameless PR document that has no business in a court of law,” a Lively spokesperson said.

The Lively rep added: “For 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 used a social media combat plan’ to scorch earth and try to ‘bury’ and ‘destroy’ 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.” The Times was first sued for $250 million by Baldoni, publicists Melissa Nathan and Jennifer Abel and others on New Year’s Eve, the same day Lively sued Baldoni and pals.