Blake Lively's rep seeks dismissal from Justin Baldoni's defamation lawsuit

By: Shawn
Blake Lively's public relations representative, Leslie Sloane, has filed a motion to dismiss herself from Justin Baldoni's defamation lawsuit. Sloane argues that she never defamed Baldoni, the director of It Ends With Us, and that the allegedly false statements cited in the lawsuit are opinions that cannot be subject to a defamation claim.

Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively in 'It Ends With Us.'
Nicole Rivelli/Sony Pictures Entertainment

Sloane's lawyer, Sigrid McCawley, claims that statements made by Sloane, such as "the whole cast doesn't like Justin" and "the whole cast hates him," are "hyperbolic personal sentiments" that cannot be proven true or false. Therefore, they cannot be subject to a defamation claim.

Sloane also argues that the statements were substantially true. She cites details from Baldoni's lawsuit that suggest the cast did indeed shun the director and side with Lively. Additionally, Sloane claims that Baldoni's unwanted sexual conduct, as alleged by Lively, falls within New York's definition of sexual assault.

Sloane's legal team also argues that Baldoni failed to allege actual malice, a necessary component of a defamation claim. Actual malice requires proof that the accused made defamatory statements with knowledge they were false or were recklessly indifferent to their truth.

The motion to dismiss comes after Lively filed a revised lawsuit that includes new allegations. According to sources, two other actresses, Jenny Slate and Isabela Ferrer, are prepared to testify about their own allegedly uncomfortable experiences with Baldoni.

Sloane is seeking legal fees from Baldoni under a New York law that allows for the early dismissal of lawsuits intended to chill free speech. The case is ongoing, with a court decision expected in the coming months.

TRENDING!

Franklin Richards, son of Reed and Sue: Marvel's most powerful child unleashed

Image
‎Born to two of the Marvel Universe's most iconic heroes—Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic) and Sue Storm (Invisible Woman)—Franklin Richards was never going to be ordinary. But no one expected this. ‎ Pedro Pascal and Vanessa Kirby in 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps'. ‎ 20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios ‎ ‎From the moment he first opened his eyes in New York City, Franklin's destiny was intertwined with the cosmos. Not just another gifted child of superheroes, Franklin emerged as a mutant—or something more—with the ability to reshape existence itself. ‎ ‎His middle name, Benjamin, honors his godfather, Ben Grimm, and his first name, Franklin, pays tribute to his maternal grandfather. But make no mistake: Franklin Richards would earn a name that cosmic entities would fear to speak. ‎ ‎Powers Unleashed: Too Much for Earth to Handle ‎ ‎As a toddler, Franklin’s powers manifested with terrifying potential. When the alien tyrant Annihilus tried to siphon the child’...
Read more

'Fantastic Four: First Steps' review: Family, powers, and cosmic battles in Marvel's latest

Image
‎Marvel’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps reintroduces the original superhero family through a bold, emotionally grounded origin tale set in a stylized 1960s New York. The film follows four ordinary individuals—Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm—whose lives are forever changed after a cosmic accident grants them extraordinary powers. Rather than leaning on multiverse entanglements or franchise cameos, the narrative centers on their transformation into both heroes and a family, balancing high-stakes cosmic drama with intimate, character-driven portrayal. ‎ ‎ Vanessa Kirby in 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps.' ‎20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios. ‎ ‎The plot begins with Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal), a visionary scientist, who launches a space expedition to study a cosmic anomaly. His wife, biophysicist Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby), joins the mission along with her brother Johnny (Joseph Quinn), an impulsive young pilot, and their loyal friend Ben Grim...
Read more

‎'Happy Gilmore 2' review: Adam Sandler delivers nostalgic punchlines and unfiltered energy in hilarious sequel

Image
‎Adam Sandler storms back onto the green in Happy Gilmore 2, a full-throttle sequel that embraces absurdity, celebrates nostalgia, and revives the very style of comedy that launched Sandler into superstardom in the 1990s. This isn’t a soft reboot or sanitized update — it’s a chaotic continuation that brings back Sandler’s signature blend of rage, heart, and offbeat humor, with all the unpolished charm that made the original a cult classic. ‎ Adam Sandler returns to the green with Happy Gilmore 2, a fearless blast of '90s comedy chaos, nostalgia overload, and unfiltered rage-fueled laughs. ‎Netflix ‎ ‎The screenplay, penned by Sandler and longtime writing partner Tim Herlihy, picks up decades after the original film left off. Happy Gilmore, once a golf legend with six championship titles and a seemingly perfect life, is now a broken man. Following a tragic and absurdly Sandler-esque accident — a deadly tee shot that kills his wife Virginia — Happy has abandoned golf and ...
Read more

'The Naked Gun' review: Liam Neeson and Pamela Anderson navigate a delightfully absurd crime caper

Image
‎Legacy sequels often struggle to find their footing between nostalgia and reinvention, and The Naked Gun reboot is no exception. Directed by Akiva Schaffer, this revival attempts to graft a convoluted crime plot onto the franchise’s classic barrage of slapstick and deadpan parody. The result is uneven, but there’s enough inspired silliness — and just enough plot to hang it on — to keep the audience engaged. ‎ ‎ The Naked Gun reboot fumbles its plot but scores laughs, as Liam Neeson plays it straight and Pamela Anderson steals scenes in this messy but funny revival. ‎Paramount ‎ ‎The film opens with a bank robbery sequence that tries to blend physical comedy with high-stakes action. It’s an effective table-setter, though many of the best gags already appeared in the trailer. The incident eventually ties into the suspicious death of a tech engineer whose electric vehicle crashes under mysterious circumstances. His sister, Beth Davenport (Pamela Anderson), believes foul play ...
Read more

‎Why Brooke Hogan requested removal from Hulk Hogan's will and will not inherit $25 million fortune

Image
‎Brooke Hogan, daughter of wrestling legend Hulk Hogan, will reportedly not inherit any portion of her late father’s $25 million estate after requesting to be removed from his will. This surprising decision, first revealed by TMZ on July 29, 2023, sheds light on the complex family dynamics and trust issues that influenced Brooke’s choice. ‎ ‎ Brooke Hogan chose to be removed from Hulk Hogan’s $25 million will to avoid conflict, prioritizing family peace over financial inheritance. ‎Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic via Getty Images; Rob Kim/Getty Images for Fanatics ‎ ‎Sources close to the Hogan family and Brooke’s husband, Steven Oleksy, have confirmed that Brooke’s request stemmed from a desire to avoid entanglement in potential legal and financial disputes following her father’s passing. According to the source, Brooke “didn’t trust the people around him and didn’t want to be involved in a financial battle when he passed.” The decision was motivated by Brooke’s wish to protect Hulk...
Read more

'Bring Her Back' review: A chilling descent into possession, grief, and ritual horror

Image
‎Danny and Michael Philippou’s Bring Her Back delivers a deeply unsettling experience that trades the frenetic energy of their breakout debut Talk To Me for a more insidious, brooding exploration of possession, grief, and fractured familial bonds. Set in a quiet suburb saturated with creeping dread, the film stars Sally Hawkins in a disarmingly unnerving performance that flips her familiar on-screen warmth into something far more sinister. ‎ Danny and Michael Philippou’s Bring Her Back blends possession horror, childhood trauma, and occult dread into a slow-burning, emotionally raw thriller. ‎Bring Her Back ‎ ‎Laura, played by Hawkins, is a well-meaning but increasingly unstable foster mother grappling with the recent death of her daughter. When she takes in teenage Andy (Billy Barratt) and his younger, visually impaired sister Piper (Sora Wong), the line between nurturing care and obsessive attachment begins to erode. Her affection quickly gravitates toward Piper, while An...
Read more

Trump signs One Big Beautiful Bill: Here's what it means for your money and taxes

Image
‎President Donald Trump signed the sweeping One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) into law Friday, launching a new era of American economic policy. Spanning nearly 1,000 pages, the legislation overhauls federal tax rates, student loan programs, estate tax exemptions, and social safety net spending. Economists say the effects of the bill will ripple across every income bracket—yet not equally. ‎ ‎ Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill reshapes taxes, student loans, estate law, and Medicaid—learn how it affects your money and financial future. ‎Mark Schiefelbein/AP Photo ‎ ‎Financial experts warn that while high-income households and top 1% earners stand to gain significantly, low- and middle-income Americans could face rising costs and reduced benefits. The bill also adds between $3.1 and $3.5 trillion to the national debt over the next decade, according to estimates from the Penn Wharton Budget Model. ‎ ‎Tax Cuts Made Permanent for Individuals and Estates ‎ ‎Provisions from the 2017 T...
Read more

'The Assassin' review: A razor-sharp spy thriller that redefines the genre with Keeley Hawes and Freddie Highmore

Image
‎A trail of expertly executed hits sets the tone for The Assassin, a fresh entry in the spy thriller genre that makes its ambition known from the outset. A masked figure takes down a line of armed guards with brutal precision, but the genre’s well-worn tropes are swiftly disrupted once the mask is removed. What follows is not a man on a mission, but Julie — a female assassin played by Keeley Hawes — who stashes away a positive pregnancy test in her tactical suit, with an expression that reads more like resignation than joy. ‎ Keeley Hawes stars in The Assassin, a bold, twisty spy thriller blending action, wit, and family tension across Europe in a genre-defying series. ‎The Assassin ‎ ‎Several decades later, Julie has traded silenced pistols for seaside silence in a sleepy Greek village, seemingly retired and trying to dodge a group of football-playing local children rather than professional killers. Yet danger doesn’t take retirement lightly, and neither does Julie. Her pa...
Read more

‎'Materialists' review: Celine Song's sophisticated rom-com explores dating, wealth and emotional worth in modern NYC

Image
‎At first glance, the trailer for Materialists might provoke concern from fans of Past Lives. Could Celine Song, known for her nuanced exploration of memory and longing, really be behind what appears to be a glossy, conventional romantic comedy? Fortunately, the answer is far more compelling. Song’s second feature is a smart, layered dissection of love, ambition, and class in the modern urban dating scene — a film as emotionally resonant as it is aesthetically stylish. ‎ ‎ Dakota Johnson and Pedro Pascal in 'Materialists.' ‎Atsushi Nishijima/A24 ‎ ‎Set in New York City, Materialists follows Lucy (Dakota Johnson), a high-end matchmaker at Adore, an elite agency catering to the city’s wealthiest singles. While the concept might suggest lighthearted matchmaking antics, Song treats Lucy’s work with realism and emotional weight, drawing from her own past experiences in the industry. Lucy is not just navigating the needs of her wealthy clients; she’s also contending with ...
Read more

‎Paris Berelc joins Asher Angel in Tubi's YA rom-com 'Kissing Is the Easy Part'

Image
‎Tubi’s upcoming young adult romantic comedy Kissing Is the Easy Part has officially expanded its cast, with Paris Berelc and Jennifer Robertson joining previously announced lead Asher Angel. Directed by filmmaker Fawzia Mirza, the feature film is an adaptation of Christine Duann’s popular Wattpad novel, which first debuted in 2015 and quickly gained a passionate fanbase. ‎ ‎ Paris Berelc (left) and Asher Angel. ‎Chad Salvador/Variety/Getty Images; Amy Sussman/Getty Images ‎ ‎Best known for her roles in Alexa & Katie and Do Revenge, Paris Berelc will not only star as Flora—an effortlessly cool student resisting the academic future her parents envision—but will also serve as an executive producer on the project. Flora's unexpected connection with her tutor Sean, played by Shazam! Fury of the Gods star Asher Angel, leads her to question both her stance on love and her own ambitions. ‎ ‎Jennifer Robertson, familiar to audiences from Ginny & Georgia and Schitt’s Cre...
Read more