**Blake Lively Seeks $161 Million in Damages from Justin Baldoni Over Alleged Smear Campaign**
Actress Blake Lively is pursuing $161 million in damages from actor and director Justin Baldoni, accusing him of launching a smear campaign that severely harmed her career, personal brand, and business ventures, according to TMZ.
Court filings obtained by TMZ reveal that Lively’s legal team claims she lost approximately $56.2 million in past and future earnings related to acting, producing, speaking engagements, and endorsement deals. The documents also allege that Baldoni’s actions inflicted additional financial harm on her companies, including $49 million in damages to her haircare brand, Blake Brown, and $22 million to her beverage line, Betty Buzz/Betty Booze.
The filings further assert that Lively suffered $34 million in reputational damage, citing over 65 million negative social media impressions tied to Baldoni’s alleged “mudslinging.”
The two actors are scheduled to face off in court this March amid a legal battle that began after Lively accused Baldoni of sexual harassment during the filming of their 2024 movie, *It Ends With Us*. Lively alleges that after she reported the harassment, Baldoni retaliated by spreading falsehoods that damaged her reputation and caused financial losses across multiple ventures.
Baldoni, who directed and co-starred in the film, responded with a $400 million countersuit, accusing Lively of defamation and claiming she fabricated allegations that ruined his career. However, that case was dismissed in June when a judge ruled Baldoni could not sue over statements made in legal filings, which are protected under law.
Lively’s lawsuit seeks compensation not only for lost income but also for emotional distress, reputational harm, and punitive damages designed to deter future misconduct. Her attorneys argue the alleged campaign against her was deliberate and intended to “destroy her credibility and professional standing.”
The controversy between the two has garnered widespread attention in Hollywood, given their high-profile status and the substantial financial stakes involved. Lively’s claims of reputational harm focus on online narratives she says were spread by Baldoni’s representatives and associates following her complaints.
Neither Blake Lively nor Justin Baldoni has issued public statements regarding the latest filings. The case is expected to go to trial in Los Angeles Superior Court next spring, with pre-trial motions scheduled for early February 2026.
This legal dispute stands as one of the entertainment industry’s most financially significant defamation cases in recent years, involving two major figures whose collaboration on a film has since devolved into ongoing litigation.
https://www.lifezette.com/2025/11/blake-lively-seeks-161-million-in-damages-accusing-justin-baldoni-of-smear-campaign-watch/
