A federal judge on Monday dismissed a lawsuit that the actor Justin Baldoni had filed against his former co-star Blake Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, as well as The New York Times.
The ruling, by Judge Lewis J. Liman of the U.S. District Court in Manhattan, is the latest twist in a star-studded legal battle over the making and marketing of the 2024 film “It Ends With Us,” and a major setback for Mr. Baldoni.
The actor filed a $400 million lawsuit against Ms. Lively and Mr. Reynolds in January, accusing the Hollywood stars of trying to destroy his reputation by accusing him of sexual harassment and retaliation on the set of the film, which he directed and starred in.
Mr. Baldoni named the couple’s publicist, Leslie Sloane, and her company as defendants. He later added The Times as a defendant, arguing that a Dec. 21 article published by the news organization about Ms. Lively’s accusations had defamed him.
The Times article reported on a legal filing to the California Civil Rights Department in which Ms. Lively accused Mr. Baldoni and Jamey Heath, the lead producer, of harassment on the set. Ms. Lively said in her complaint, which also named the pair’s company, Wayfarer Studios, that they had launched a retaliatory smear campaign against her after she complained, out of concern that those complaints would become public.
Days later, Ms. Lively sued Mr. Baldoni. Her lawsuit is proceeding.
The dispute between the two lead actors has absorbed Hollywood and made for constant tabloid fodder, far overshadowing the film at the center of it. Fans of both actors have pored over every detail in the lengthy competing lawsuits and shared their takes on social media.
