Sept. 30, 2025 -- NY Times is suing Justin Baldoni’s production company to recoup costs of tossed defamation suit. The New York Times in Manhattan added to the ongoing volleying of lawsuits in the Hollywood feud between “It Ends With Us” stars Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, suing Baldoni’s production company over its unsuccessful civil defamation suit surrounding the newspaper’s reporting on efforts to tarnish Lively’s industry reputation.

In a nine-page civil complaint filed in New York Supreme Court, the Times seeks compensatory and punitive damages from Baldoni’s production company Wayfarer for the costs of litigating defamation claims that were thrown out by a Manhattan federal judge in June.

In his now-dismissed suit, Baldoni denied that he was ever inappropriate on or off the film set, and said it was Lively who had engaged in much of the behavior she called problematic.

The New York Times is seeking damages from Justin Baldoni’s company under the state's anti-SLAPP law over civil defamation claims that were thrown out in June.

Case Information

Court Info: SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NEW YORK 

Plaintiff: THE NEW YORK TIMES COMPANY

v.

Defendant: WAYFARER STUDIOS LLC,

Documents: https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/new-york-times-baldoni-anti-slaop-complaint.pdf

CAUSE OF ACTION

(VIOLATION OF N.Y. CIVIL RIGHTS LAW §§ 70-a, 76-a)

New York’s anti-SLAPP Law provides that, in an action involving public petition and participation a prevailing defendant shall “recover damages, including costs and attorney’s fees, from any person who commenced or continued such action.” N.Y. Civ. Rights Law § 70-a(1). “[C]osts and attorney’s fees shall be recovered upon a demonstration” that the action “was commenced or continued without a substantial basis in fact and law and could not be supported by a substantial argument for the extension, modification or reversal of existing law.” Id. § 70-a(1)(a) (emphasis added).

The lawsuit against The Times was an action involving public petition and participation under N.Y. Civ. Rights Law § 76-a(1)(a). It was based on a news article published by The Times—communications in “a public forum in connection with an issue of public interest” and “lawful conduct in furtherance of the exercise of the constitutional right of free speech in connection with an issue of public interest.” Id. § 76-a(1)(a). 

The District Court’s opinion makes clear that Wayfarer and its affiliates both commenced and continued the lawsuit against The Times without a substantial basis in fact and law.

Under such circumstances, New York’s anti-SLAPP Law requires that The Times be awarded its costs and attorney’s fees and such other compensatory damages as the Court deems just and proper.