Blake Lively recently won a legal dispute against a public relations firm tied to Justin Baldoni. The case began earlier this year when PR expert Jed Wallace, owner of Street Relations Inc., filed a defamation lawsuit in Texas. He claimed that Lively’s allegations had damaged his reputation.
On Wednesday, a judge ruled that the Texas court did not have jurisdiction. This decision dismissed Wallace's lawsuit against Lively.
Background of the Case
Instagram | @fhmindia | Lively sued co-star Baldoni for retaliation after a harassment report.
In December 2024, Lively, 38, sued her "It Ends With Us" co-star and director, Justin Baldoni. She accused him of retaliating after she reported sexual harassment. Lively alleged that Baldoni tried to harm her reputation online. According to the lawsuit, he hired Wallace and his firm to deploy a “digital army” targeting her on platforms like Reddit.
After these allegations, Wallace filed his own defamation lawsuit against Lively. He claimed the accusations caused him millions of dollars in reputational damage. He also projected further financial losses exceeding one million dollars for his company.
Court Ruling
Judge Lewis Liman ruled that Lively’s team did not show Wallace had enough connection to New York to be sued there. Since Wallace is based in Austin, Texas, the court dismissed his claims against Lively. At the same time, the ruling leaves open the possibility for Lively to sue Wallace in Texas if she chooses.
Following the decision, Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, commented on the outcome:
“We are grateful for the Court’s order today, making clear that the claims against Mr. Wallace never belonged in this court. Moreover, allegations that he participated in any smear campaign are unsupported, and all claims against him have been dismissed by this court. The other defendants look forward to their day in court when they will show there is no merit to Ms. Lively’s claims against them.”
Ongoing Legal Dispute
Instagram | @people | A high-stakes courtroom battle continues to surround Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds, and Justin Baldoni.
The conflict between Lively and Baldoni is far from resolved. Her suit accuses Baldoni of sexual harassment, while his counteraction—a $400 million defamation claim aimed at Lively, Reynolds, and their publicist Leslie Sloane—was dismissed. The judge determined that Lively’s statements were legally protected.
Her case is set to go to trial in March 2026, a key moment in the ongoing fallout surrounding the film adaptation of It Ends With Us.
Media Attention and Public Interest
The case has generated steady media attention. Lively’s recent win over Wallace added another layer, though his team did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The situation highlights broader conversations about online harassment and how public figures safeguard their reputations.
It also shows how crucial jurisdiction is when bringing defamation claims. With the Baldoni trial approaching, many are watching closely to see how the allegations progress.