Justin Baldoni is doubling down on his authorized battle in opposition to Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds, now claiming he has strong proof that they’d been plotting in opposition to him months earlier than Energetic filed her bombshell Christmas lawsuit.
In response, Justin Baldoni has moved to replace his lawsuit in opposition to the Hollywood energy couple.
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Justin Baldoni Claims He Has ‘Chilly Arduous Proof’ Blake Energetic And Ryan Reynolds Have been Concentrating on Him Months Earlier than Lawsuit
Based on new authorized paperwork obtained by TMZ, Baldoni alleges that the “malicious and reckless” defamation of his character started as early as October 31, 2024. Whereas the timing may recommend a Halloween twist, Baldoni insists the importance of this date is tied to the metadata embedded in a New York Occasions article about Energetic’s lawsuit in opposition to him.
His authorized staff factors to HTML supply code inside the article that allegedly references a “message-embed-generator” with a timestamp of October 31, 2024.
In easy phrases, Baldoni’s camp argues this proves the Occasions had been engaged on the article, together with creating a instrument to show the controversial textual content messages on the coronary heart of the lawsuit, effectively earlier than Energetic’s lawsuit was formally filed.
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Why Baldoni Thinks This Is a Sport-Changer
Baldoni’s staff says this newly uncovered metadata is essential as a result of it “strips away the authorized shields” that Energetic, the New York Occasions, and different alleged collaborators might have been counting on to defend themselves. His attorneys imagine the knowledge proves a coordinated effort to smear his repute lengthy earlier than the general public was even conscious of the lawsuit.
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Justin’s Lawyer Speaks Out
Baldoni’s legal professional, Bryan Freedman, informed TMZ that amending the lawsuit was a pure subsequent step given the quantity of latest proof uncovered.
“This contemporary proof corroborates what we knew all alongside, that as a consequence of purely egotistical causes, Ms. Energetic and her complete staff colluded for months to destroy reputations by means of a fancy net of lies, false accusations, and the manipulation of illicitly obtained communications.”
“The continued public curiosity on this case on-line has paradoxically make clear the plain info pertaining to The New York Occasions and the way closely Ms. Energetic and her representatives weren’t solely deeply concerned within the tried take down and smear marketing campaign of Mr. Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios and their groups however that they themselves initiated it.”
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The revised lawsuit contains an in depth 150-plus-page timeline meticulously outlining the alleged steps in Blake’s marketing campaign in opposition to Justin. Simply how detailed is it? The timeline traces occasions way back to January 1, 2019, when Justin first emailed “It Ends With Us” creator Colleen Hoover, and follows every growth step-by-step by means of to January 29, 2025.
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Blake Energetic And Ryan Reynolds Transfer To Dismiss Justin Baldoni’s Lawsuit as Authorized Battle Escalates
Based on Variety, the couple’s legal professional, Michael Gottlieb, submitted a letter to Choose Lewis Liman, responding to the courtroom’s request for a one-sentence discover of intent.
“The Energetic-Reynolds Events intend to maneuver to dismiss Plaintiffs’ grievance,” Gottlieb wrote within the letter.
Moreover, Energetic’s publicist, Leslie Sloane, who can be named as a defendant in Baldoni’s lawsuit, filed the same discover on Wednesday, signaling a united entrance in opposition to Baldoni’s claims.
Authorized Showdown Set For Monday
Attorneys for each side are getting ready for an intense courtroom battle, with the primary listening to within the case scheduled for Monday throughout a pretrial convention. Initially set for February 12, the convention has been moved up, reflecting the urgency surrounding the case. The trial itself is currently scheduled to begin on March 9, 2026.
Choose Liman has additionally ordered each events to submit a trial plan, guaranteeing the case stays on observe for its scheduled begin date.
The authorized battle between Baldoni, Energetic, Reynolds, and the New York Occasions is just heating up. It stays to be seen how Energetic and Reynolds will reply to those new allegations, or if the Occasions will concern an announcement relating to the metadata proof Baldoni is now presenting.
One factor is obvious: this combat is way from over.
