Justin Baldoni has strongly rejected efforts by Blake Lively’s publicist, Leslie Sloane, to be removed from the ongoing legal feud between the two parties. 

Baldoni’s legal team filed a response to Sloane’s motion to dismiss, accusing her of conspiring to make him a “scapegoat” 

in a bid to protect Lively from damage to her reputation. 

The claim came as part of the ongoing defamation and extortion lawsuit filed by Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios.

The latest legal developments unfolded on March 6, when the federal judge overseeing the case referred to the dispute as a “feud between PR firms,” 

highlighting the tense nature of the situation. Baldoni’s legal team has been adamant that Sloane and her firm, 

Vision PR, played a pivotal role in what they describe as a conspiracy against Baldoni and his team. They allege that the PR firm worked with Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, to orchestrate a smear campaign designed to deflect attention from Lively’s personal and professional issues.

Baldoni’s team argues that Sloane’s actions were part of a broader strategy to salvage Lively’s public image and shield her from the negative fallout of the situation. The lawsuit claims that Sloane and the PR firm planted false information and deliberately fed misleading stories to the media, which ultimately led to widespread public backlash. Baldoni’s legal documents allege that this campaign was a calculated effort to create a diversion by making the Wayfarer team the target of public criticism, which they claim damaged their reputation and business.

In her motion to dismiss, Sloane’s lawyer, Sigrid McCawley, refuted the accusations, stating that Sloane had been unjustly dragged into the legal dispute as part of a “smoke and mirrors exercise” to distract from the alleged sexual harassment claims against Baldoni. McCawley insists there is no substantial evidence to support the claim that Sloane or her firm had a hand in orchestrating the smear campaign, nor is there proof of extortion or any improper gain by Sloane as part of the alleged scheme.

The case centers around a series of legal claims made by both Baldoni and Lively. In December 2024, Lively filed a lawsuit accusing Baldoni of sexual harassment and retaliation, alleging that he had mistreated her and others on set. The lawsuit was amended to include claims from other women who accused Baldoni of misconduct. Baldoni, in turn, countersued, accusing Lively, her publicist, and Reynolds of defamation and extortion, claiming that their actions severely harmed his reputation and the operations of his production company. The countersuit, which totals $400 million, also named The New York Times as a defendant, following a controversial article the newspaper published in December 2024 about Lively’s allegations.

Baldoni’s legal team has been vocal about the extent of the damage they claim to have suffered as a result of the smear campaign, stating that their reputations have been “destroyed” and their businesses have been severely impacted. They also argue that their film projects have been derailed due to the fallout from the public allegations.

Meanwhile, the legal back-and-forth continues to unfold, with no immediate resolution in sight. Sloane’s motion to be removed from the case has yet to be ruled on, and other parties, including The New York Times, have also filed motions to be excluded from the lawsuit. The court date for this high-profile legal battle is set for March 29, 2026, but for now, the public remains captivated by the ongoing saga, which has involved multiple layers of legal complexities, media drama, and personal accusations.

Despite the intense legal battle, both Lively and Baldoni have largely avoided direct public discussion of the case in recent months. Lively, in particular, maintained a low profile during the SXSW premiere of her new movie Another Simple Favor, where she sidestepped questions about the lawsuit. Meanwhile, Baldoni’s supporters have continued to rally behind him, urging the public to recognize what they view as an unjust smear campaign designed to damage his career and reputation.

As the legal drama continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the courts will address these claims and whether any resolution can be reached before the trial begins in 2026. Until then, both sides appear committed to pursuing their respective legal strategies, with high stakes for everyone involved.

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