Leslie Sloane, the longtime publicist for Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds, 

is requesting to be removed from the ongoing $400 million legal dispute involving actor and director Justin Baldoni. 

In a motion filed in New York federal court on Thursday, February 20, Sloane’s attorney, Sigrid McCawley, 

petitioned for the dismissal of both Sloane and her firm, Vision PR, from Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios’ countersuit.

McCawley’s legal filing argues that Sloane was unfairly implicated in the lawsuit

as part of a diversion tactic meant to shift focus from Lively’s sexual harassment and retaliation allegations against Baldoni. 

The motion asserts that there is no legitimate basis to accuse Sloane of spreading false stories or orchestrating a smear campaign against Baldoni.

Claims of Extortion Rejected

Baldoni’s legal team has accused Sloane of being involved in an alleged extortion attempt. However, Sloane’s attorneys dismissed these claims as unfounded, arguing that there is no evidence to support the accusations.

The motion highlights that Baldoni’s lawyers failed to specify “where or how the alleged extortion occurred” or how Sloane allegedly benefited from it. According to Sloane’s legal representatives, there is no proof that she or her firm gained anything of value through any supposed misconduct.

Defense Against Baldoni’s Allegations

In addition to seeking dismissal, Sloane’s legal team also defended Blake Lively against Baldoni’s portrayal of the situation as a dispute over creative control of It Ends With Us, the upcoming film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel.

The filing challenges Baldoni’s claims that Lively was overly controlling and difficult to work with, dismissing them as gendered criticism.

“Baldoni’s allegations about the creative issues are irrelevant and tellingly sexist. Because Ms. Lively — an executive producer on the film — dared to offer input on the script, wardrobe, and editing, Baldoni blasts her as ‘tyrannical’ and ‘aggressive,’ among other coded terms,” the motion states.

The filing also reiterates Lively’s stance that her legal battle is not about creative disputes but rather about holding Baldoni accountable for alleged misconduct.

Allegations of a Smear Campaign

Sloane’s attorneys further argued that Baldoni and his team attempted to damage Lively’s reputation in retaliation for her allegations. They claim that after Lively came forward with accusations of sexual harassment and retaliation, Baldoni’s representatives launched a campaign to discredit her.

“When Ms. Lively bravely spoke up about Baldoni’s predatory behavior, he and his team used every weapon in their arsenal to blame, embarrass, and silence her, going so far as to hire a crisis PR manager who promised to ‘bury’ Ms. Lively and ‘destroy’ her life,” the filing alleges.

Baldoni’s legal representatives have not responded to these claims.

Lively’s Amended Lawsuit and New Witnesses

The latest developments in the case come just days after Lively filed an amended complaint expanding upon the lawsuit she originally filed in December. In this updated filing, Lively continues to accuse Baldoni, producer Jamey Heath, Wayfarer Studios, its co-founder Steve Sarowitz, and multiple public relations professionals of orchestrating an online smear campaign against her after she reported alleged misconduct.

Additionally, Lively’s amended complaint claims that Baldoni engaged in inappropriate behavior toward two other unnamed female co-stars. According to the filing, these women have come forward and are willing to testify against Baldoni in court.

The legal battle is expected to be a prolonged one, with the trial scheduled to take place in March 2026.

What’s Next?

With the case continuing to unfold, all eyes remain on the high-profile legal battle between Lively and Baldoni. Sloane’s motion to dismiss will now be reviewed by the court, and its outcome could have significant implications for the case moving forward.

As the legal proceedings continue, Lively and Baldoni remain at the center of a heated dispute that extends beyond Hollywood, raising larger conversations about power dynamics, accountability, and the treatment of women in the entertainment industry.

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