Ryan Reynolds is requesting to be removed as a defendant in Justin Baldoni’s $400 million defamation lawsuit. Reynolds argues that Baldoni’s claims are based on his opinion that Baldoni’s behavior resembles that of a “predator,” which he believes is protected under the First Amendment.
The lawsuit stems from allegations made by Blake Lively against Baldoni for sexual harassment and retaliation during their work on the film It Ends With Us. Reynolds’ legal team contends that he is only named in the suit due to a $100 million “smear campaign” linked to a business associate of Baldoni.
Baldoni accuses Reynolds of interfering with the film’s production and making unauthorized changes to the script. He also claims Reynolds called him a “sexual predator” to talent agency WME, which subsequently dropped Baldoni.
Reynolds’ attorneys have labeled the lawsuit as “frivolous,” asserting that he has the right to express his opinions. The trial is set for March 2026, and if Reynolds’ motion to dismiss is denied, he may be called to testify.