United News of Bangladesh

A judge on Monday dismissed the lawsuit that actor and director Justin Baldoni filed against his “It Ends With Us” costar Blake Lively after she sued him last year for sexual harassment and retaliation. US District Court Judge Lewis Liman's decision is the latest development in the bitter legal battle surrounding the dark romantic film, reports AP. Baldoni and production company Wayfarer Studios countersued in January for $400 million, accusing Lively and her husband, “Deadpool” actor Ryan Reynolds, of defamation and extortion. The New York judge ruled that Baldoni can’t sue Lively for defamation over claims she made in her legal claim, because allegations made in a lawsuit are exempt from libel claims. Liman also ruled that Baldoni's claims that Lively stole creative control of the film didn't count as extortion under California law. The judge, however, said Baldoni could revise the lawsuit if he wanted to pursue different claims related to whether Lively breached or interfered with a contract. His legal team indicated it planned to do so. “Ms Lively and her team’s predictable declaration of victory is false,” one of Baldoni's lawyers, Bryan Freedman, said in a statement. Doechii uses BET Awards win to speak out on immigration raids He said that Lively's claims that she was sexually harassed on the film set, and then subjected to a secret smear campaign intended to taint her reputation, were “no truer today than they were yesterday.” “It Ends With Us,” an adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling 2016 novel that begins as a romance but takes a dark turn into domestic violence, was released in August, exceeding box office expectations with a $50 million debut. But the movie’s release was shrouded by speculation over discord between Lively and Baldoni. The judge also dismissed Baldoni's defamation lawsuit against The New York Times, which had reported on Lively's sexual harassment allegations. “Today’s opinion is a total victory and a complete vindication for Blake Lively, along with those that Justin Baldoni and the Wayfarer Parties dragged into their retaliatory lawsuit, including Ryan Reynolds, (publicist) Leslie Sloane and The New York Times," Lively's attorneys, Esra Hudson and Mike Gottlieb, said in a prepared statement. The lawyers said they “look forward to the next round” of seeking attorneys’ fees, treble damages and punitive damages.

Justin Baldoni, director of the film "It Ends With Us," has filed a $250 million libel lawsuit against The New York Times in Los Angeles Superior Court. The suit challenges a report alleging Baldoni sexually harassed actress Blake Lively and attempted to tarnish her reputation. The lawsuit, involving Baldoni and nine co-plaintiffs, accuses the Times and Lively of orchestrating a smear campaign. Among the plaintiffs are lead producer Jamey Heath, production company Wayfarer Studios, and crisis communications specialist Melissa Nathan. Nathan’s text message was featured prominently in the Times' Dec. 21 article, titled: "‘We Can Bury Anyone’: Inside a Hollywood Smear Machine." Popular Characters of Squid Game Season 2: Who's Your Favourite? The Times, however, defended its reporting, stating that the article was thoroughly researched and relied on original documents, including emails and text messages. Danielle Rhoades, a Times spokesperson, said the article was "meticulously and responsibly reported," and no factual errors have been identified by Baldoni or his team. Baldoni’s lawsuit claims the Times adopted Lively’s version of events without verifying her allegations and ignored evidence that contradicted her narrative. It also argues that the documents reviewed by the Times would have shown Lively, not Baldoni, engaged in a smear effort. Lively, who is not named as a defendant in the lawsuit, had previously filed a legal complaint with the California Civil Rights Department over her alleged treatment during the film's production. Her attorneys asserted that the libel lawsuit does not alter the claims outlined in her complaint. "It Ends With Us," based on Colleen Hoover’s 2016 bestselling novel, premiered in August and exceeded expectations with a $50 million opening. However, its release was overshadowed by reports of tensions between Baldoni and Lively. While Baldoni was largely absent from the promotional campaign, Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, actively participated, coinciding with Reynolds’ promotion of “Deadpool & Wolverine.” Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt reach divorce settlement after 8 years Lively gained recognition in the 2005 movie "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" and solidified her fame with the TV series "Gossip Girl." She has since appeared in films like "The Town" and "The Shallows." Baldoni, known for starring in "Jane the Virgin," directed the 2019 movie "Five Feet Apart" and authored the book "Man Enough," which critiques conventional masculinity. Following Lively’s complaint and the Times report, Baldoni’s agency, WME, dropped him as a client. He had previously addressed concerns that "It Ends With Us" romanticized domestic violence, asserting that critics were entitled to their views.