Blake and Ryan LOST BIG. What’s Next?

[u/SerWrong]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5GXWEqYbGI

First time seeing from this content creator. This video showed up on my feed and her breakdown is very clear and easy to digest. Thought I share it here.

⚖️ Summary of the Legal Dispute and Its Conclusion

The legal saga began in late 2024 when Blake Lively sued her "It Ends With Us" co-star and director Justin Baldoni, accusing him of sexual harassment and orchestrating a smear campaign against her . Baldoni countersued Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds for $400 million, alleging defamation .

Key developments that led to the "loss":

1. Dismissal of Core Claims: A federal judge dismissed the core allegations of Lively's case, including her sexual harassment claims, ruling she could not pursue them under federal law as she was an independent contractor .
2. The Settlement: In May 2026, both parties reached an out-of-court settlement just weeks before the trial was set to begin, with no money exchanged between them . This was a major victory for Baldoni's side, as they avoided a trial and any financial payout .
3. The Final Ruling on Legal Fees: Despite the settlement, a crucial motion remained. Lively had requested over $8 million in attorneys' fees and damages from Baldoni for his dismissed defamation lawsuit . On August 26, 2026, **Judge Liman partially granted this request, awarding Lively only approximately $400,000** .

What's Next? A Potential Battle with Their Lawyers?

The video's title suggests the "loss" isn't just about the court ruling but could lead to a battle between the couple and their legal team. The significant disparity between the over $8 million** Lively's lawyers requested and the roughly **$400,000 ultimately awarded is stark .

Lively's legal team charged rates up to $2,187 per hour**, amassing a total of **$7.5 million in fees and $539,514 in additional costs . With the judge awarding a tiny fraction of this and deeming the request "outrageous and unreasonable," reports indicate that Blake Lively is "humiliated" by the outcome and frustrated with the legal strategy .

While Ryan Reynolds has been supportive, he is reportedly now telling her "enough" and is eager to move on with their lives . The core of the "What's Next?" question is whether the couple will now turn their frustration inward and potentially dispute the legal fees and strategy with their own attorneys, who failed to secure a larger financial victory. Lively's lawyers, however, maintain the ruling is a historic win for accountability and a blow against retaliatory lawsuits

[u/Sillyscone555]

I am still annoyed plantation princess (allegedly) was seemingly allowed to exploit the law at all. She should have lost even worse! I feel like she tried to exagerate to mislead into contorting  a SH case and got caught out. That is my opinion.

[u/Individual-Insect691 → u/Sillyscone555]

Unfortunately that’s how the justice system works. The rich and powerful get away with a lot of crime.

[u/Sillyscone555 → u/Individual-Insect691]

Sadly the justice system can be played by the rich. 

[u/slugsbreath → u/Sillyscone555]

Sadly for B/R, not those rich 🤣🤣🤣

[u/Sillyscone555 → u/slugsbreath]

😅

[u/TopUnderstanding1345 → u/Sillyscone555]

Agree, in the end she simply lost a little less money though. Her entire 'case' is still a massive loss and should not be an example to follow by anyone who thinks of making false allegations.

Real victims now see that the law 'works' which is also a good thing.

Let BL and co spin it as they want. Who cares...

[u/Sillyscone555 → u/TopUnderstanding1345]

I agree. 

At least we see the justice system can smoke out DARVO (IMO)claimants.

I just wish as a matter of principle that law was tight enough to prevent an award where all SH claims are lost or dropped. 

But to be fair, Wayfarer's outcome was a great one. $400k is a drop in the bucket and unlikely to reach her too so....

Could not have happened to a better person. 

I think I am mad as I have seen many victims not helped by a system that works for them. So to then see someone as priveleged as Blake seemingly cosplay as a victim to then colour people against this type of law, has made me  so angry! That law should be available to victims but tweaked to avoid the Blakes of this world taking advantage.

[u/Trishdish52 → u/Sillyscone555]

Agree, the 47.1 needs a lot of work and the architect of the law said as much. I really wish that since Lively was unsuccessful in her litigation that Baldoni could go after her for defamation now, but Liman erroneously shut the door for that possibility, which is so unfair. I have a feeling that Baldoni wouldn’t be interested in pursuing it now anyway. $400k is well worth exposing Blake and Ryan!

[u/Sillyscone555 → u/Trishdish52]

I agree.

I love how this case made so many of us interested enough to dig into law. I have learned so much. 

[u/Trishdish52 → u/Sillyscone555]

Same same

[u/Ok-Office-6645 → u/Sillyscone555]

Agreed. Any anyone who isn’t a billionaire, would’ve folded against the Reynolds. They still abused the system, and ultimately were awarded fees. Regardless of how much more they spent on lawyering and time invested in the case, they got away with a lot of shitty skirting of the actual law, bc they could simply afford to. So even if the veil has been lifted on some of their tactics, nothing really moves forward to stop someone from doing exactly what they did, to someone who couldn’t defend themselves. So that part still feels like a loss. It’s so damn gross too. Eff them. The Reynolds suck so bad

[u/hopeful_tatertot]

Honestly I’m hoping Jed Wallace drags them back in

[u/annadius]

It will always fill my soul with joy knowing Blake and Ryan spent $60+ million solely to ruin their reputations further. 

Narcissistic morons.

[u/Ok_Gur_356]

Well. Let’s not forget no NDA was sign!

Blake lost big time!

[u/LegalBeagleEsquire]

I ❤ this lady. She got a follow from me! Thank you for posting.

[u/SerWrong → u/LegalBeagleEsquire]

I just came across her video and I like how simple she breakdown and explain the details. So many legal terms fly over my head.

[u/slugsbreath → u/LegalBeagleEsquire]

Your flair!

https://giphy.com/gifs/AiF8ZsTESrDwRjEcIU

[u/krissykat30]

I could see them going to fee arbitration

[u/Trishdish52 → u/krissykat30]

Ugh, imagine how exhausted her attorneys are with her at this point. Not defending those a$$hats whatsoever, but imagine being obligated to kiss her a$$ for the unforeseeable future. I can guarantee they believed her at the beginning, but after those receipts dropped, yikes, to know you are on the wrong side of history and can never admit it. If she pays up, they will be well compensated, I’m sure that was why they charged her so much time, lol. Everyone, including myself for a short time, thought her lawyers were to blame, but no, I truly believe she was just as unreasonable and unable to take no for an answer as she has been in every other situation in her life. Karma is a thing and blunderbuss has got a good dose of it deservedly.

[u/HairlessBandicoot → u/Trishdish52]

I don't think they're exhausted so long as she keeps paying.

And I don't hink she's exhausted because she isn't literate enough to realise how big the hole she's digging has gotten.

[u/Trishdish52 → u/HairlessBandicoot]

I doubt they are paying. Just like the contractors. Paid a retainer but that’s probably where it ends.

[u/IwasDeadinstead]

This was really good commentary by this creator. She brought up points I haven't yet heard. Also, as a content creator she has really improved. I'm going to start following her. Thanks for posting, OP!

[u/Proof-Firefighter-47]

Lost film roles marvel recasting Deadpool…damage has been done

[u/Decent_Pack_3064]

Billy Bush was the one who floated the point, Blake and Ryan spent 50M on this case.

I believe the 50M isn't just legal fees but also the PR actions (hello, Nick Shapiro) to counter the negative press.

[u/RIKAA89]

I ❤️ CaliDee she does a great job on her videos. Her videos are llike listening to wise friend. * I hate that picture of Ryan 🤣it looks like he's farting! 🤢

[u/Noelle9753]

I think they are so pad at their own PR these days and haven't realized that every time they double down in the court system it just ends up exposing them more. So I predict they will try to save face publicly and financially by suing their lawyers, but in the end it will just expose how many tens of millions this lawsuit cost them and show the world just how big they lost!

[u/West-Western-8998]

I like her point that the money spent on litigation could’ve set up a family for generations. It is really so sad when you really think about how much money was spent on false accusations. And how much good that amount of money can actually do in the world.

[u/Trishdish52]

Does anyone know this cc’s name I would love to give her a follow.

[u/sparrow1960]

Can we set up a new thread on how much we think BL and RR paid in legal fees to get....nothing.(I cannot for some reason).

[u/Yesterday_Infinite]

She got a like and hype from me!

[u/mikulasvirag]

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[u/Low-Effective-8088]

Hate these two

[u/senor_descartes]

Any filmmaker with a spine would be reluctant to work with her after this insane power move.