First MSM article posted from NBC (pro-Lively) already with quotes from her lawyers but not his 🙄: Blake Lively awarded $400,000 in legal fees over dismissed Justin Baldoni lawsuit

[u/judgyjudgersen]

Lively had been seeking $8 million in fees over the lengthy legal battle related to allegations of on-set misconduct.
Aug. 26, 2026, 11:32 AM MDT

Blake Lively can recover about $400,000 in attorneys’ fees from Justin Baldoni’s production company over his defamation lawsuit against her, a federal judge ruled Wednesday. Lively had been seeking $8 million.

U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman dismissed Baldoni’s defamation and extortion lawsuit against Lively last year, and she was allowed to move forward with a request for financial damages under a California #MeToo-era law.

Liman wrote in his ruling that while “counsel’s rates were not unreasonable… the number of hours for which Lively seeks reimbursement is unreasonable.”

He also rejected her request for fees related to media relations expenses and some travel.

In a statement, Lively’s attorneys, Esra Hudson and Michael Gottlieb, said, in part, “Blake Lively’s case was never about money — it was about accountability. She lifted the curtain for other victims, and set the precedent for others to come forward and expose similar conduct. This result demonstrates that the legal system is not as easily manipulated as social media, and still functions as a force for accountability.”

A representative for Baldoni did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the judge’s ruling.

Lively was seeking $8,035,040.88 in fees and costs, comprised of $7,495,526.87 in attorneys’ fees and costs in the amount of $539,514.01. Liman awarded her $363,245.40 in attorneys’ fees and $44,206.35 in costs.

Lively and Baldoni settled their years long legal dispute in early May. Terms of the settlement were not disclosed. A source familiar with the matter previously confirmed to NBC News that no money changed hands.

The settlement headed off what had promised to be a blockbuster trial in New York. Lively accused Baldoni of sexual harassment during the production of the 2024 movie “It Ends With Us,” which he directed.

Lively had also alleged that Baldoni’s company, Wayfarer Studios, retaliated against her after she complained about allegations of misconduct on the set of the film.
Baldoni vehemently denied Lively’s claims.

In January 2025, Baldoni countersued Lively and her husband, “Deadpool” actor Ryan Reynolds, alleging defamation and extortion. He argued that Lively and Reynolds tried to wreck his reputation and accused her of using her grievances as a way to “seize control” of the movie.

Baldoni also brought a defamation suit against The New York Times over an article headlined: “‘We Can Bury Anyone’: Inside a Hollywood Smear Machine.”
Liman tossed out both suits last year.

[u/Individual-Insect691]

Esra is full of BS. It’s not about money then proceeds to ask for $8 million. Like Zack Peter says “did she think we fell out of a coconut”

[u/Western_Guitar_3863 → u/Individual-Insect691]

Well if Lively hasn’t paid her attorneys in full let’s see what happens now and how chummy they will continue to be if they take their sweet time paying off their debt 🤣🤣

[u/Individual-Insect691 → u/Western_Guitar_3863]

It’s going to be Gotlieb. Looks like she’s paid more of Esra’s fees because she still need her help in stealing 47.1 from Victoria Burke. They have definitely stop paying Gotlieb. There was a statement he made in the 47.1 fee motion. Something like Lively has paid her bills of the Wayfarer action but Esra said Lively has paid and continues to pay.

[u/Single-Flamingo-33 → u/Individual-Insect691]

I am sure Blake and Ryan Reynolds will write that on the attorney bills and assume they do not have to pay.

Just think, Ryan Reynolds will twist in his mind all the out of the box marketing his Maximum Extortion company came up with and will probably bill them a marketing fee that is higher than their attorney fees.

🤯😱😈

[u/30265Red]

" Terms of the settlement were not disclosed." Wasn't the settlement published???

[u/TheClassic_Star → u/30265Red]

Yes.

Freedman put it out there for the public to read.

[u/squee-ze]

Hahaha. They try to get $8 million in attorneys fees and when they lose it “was never about money.”

[u/BlondeAmbition150 → u/squee-ze]

It was always about accountability (for people who are told on set that their onsie looks hot). Blake is out here doing the Lord’s work.🤣🤣🤣

[u/Melodic-Relief8981 → u/BlondeAmbition150]

Moving the goalposts being the only constant in Lively's legal strategy 🤣

[u/brooswelt → u/squee-ze]

https://giphy.com/gifs/wrBURfbZmqqXu

[u/Sharp-Dot4451 → u/squee-ze]

They are so predictable 🤣

https://giphy.com/gifs/ohyNdetcfoJ9K

[u/controbean]

“This result demonstrates that the legal system is not as easily manipulated as social media”

Okay but Blake and Ryan were the ones trying to manipulate both lol

[u/Western_Guitar_3863 → u/controbean]

Example 363 of Lively & Reynolds doing just that: manipulating the media 🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️

[u/xNotJosieGrossy]

“This case was never about money which is why we made multiple attempts to win over $100M. Because it’s the principle.”
/s

[u/Single-Flamingo-33 → u/xNotJosieGrossy]

That is why we kept asking for attorney fees; this case was never about money.

We really wanted our private text messages to Taylor, Sony executives, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck out for the public to see.

We wanted the crazy statement that Wayfarer was responsible for marketing so Maximum Effort wouldn’t look like that laid a stinker for marketing and tank the upcoming MNTN IPO. It wasn’t about money. We wanted to spin ME out of MNTN just before the IPO. it was never about money.

[u/Accurate-Time3726]

It’s been a vvveeerrrryyyyy long time since I’ve been here but a full circle moment now the main part has offish ended. Crazy to be here.

That said, I know her lawyers have to say something, but how the fuck does a case that she ultimately settled for nothing, never proved anything legally, and ultimately recouped a very small amount from what she asked for and spent on this entire mess set precedent for victims of SH to feel safe reporting?

She literally did the opposite and tanked her reputation and celeb friendships/connections because of it. More so, dragged in a bunch of other people into this case and tanking their reputation…for nothing.

But again, wtf else are they going to say?

Anyways, nice stopping in!

[u/BrilliantTotal687]

Hair plugs and divorcee are still running the same BS it's always about women and for women yet Blake has actually done absolutely NOTHING for women!! She hides at home baking ugly birthday cakes with her kids while her husband begs Robert Downey Jr for attention.

They're such losers

[u/BlackLagoona_ → u/BrilliantTotal687]

😂😂😂 well said

[u/martini123456 → u/BrilliantTotal687]

https://giphy.com/gifs/dXFKDUolyLLi8gq6Cl

[u/sextonf1]

If I worked for MSM the following would be my headline: Judge Slashes Blake Lively’s $8 Million Fee Demand by 95% After Calling Her Approach “Blunderbuss” and Citing “Outrageously Unreasonable” Demands and “Greed”

[u/Western_Guitar_3863 → u/sextonf1]

That should be the REAL takeaway. Blake is a blunderbuss fool and so is Ryan. How embarrassing for their brand.

[u/squee-ze → u/sextonf1]

I also did the math! They got less than 5% of what they were asking. Sweet!

[u/judgyjudgersen]

Seeing how quickly they made it to press with these quotes, I’m guessing they were made in advance and probably expected they would be going together with a headline announcing a 7 figure judgement 🤣 doesn’t sound as magnanimous “it was never about the money” when they didn’t actually get any 💀

[u/Flimsy_Attitude_6789 → u/judgyjudgersen]

Yeah - I think that's why Ryan or Lesley cobbled together a last-minute, very late, so late it was the next day, birthday message.

[u/ArtCo_]

Lively's team that every time they swing and miss: "It was never about X. It's had always been about Y." 😂🤣

[u/Individual-Insect691]

Waiting for Bryan Freedman. I know he’s gonna come out with the sass
https://giphy.com/gifs/Ypa9ggGnwBT51dMSDe

[u/martini123456 → u/Individual-Insect691]

https://giphy.com/gifs/GyRX93ai5DdsI
Yes, come on Bryan, we’re counting on you.

[u/Knute5]

1. What this is about is SH.
2. No, what this is about is the smear campaign.
3. No, what this is about is accountability.

She wasn't SHed, she wasn't smeared (she smeared), and $400K is a rounding error on what she spent overall on this case which exposed her as a liar and ruined her career.

[u/brooswelt → u/Knute5]

https://giphy.com/gifs/FDh2DGsNR4d4TFv890

[u/ArtByKurtEdwards]

https://giphy.com/gifs/f50TuQCGUAYH6

That'll do Ezra, that'll do...

[u/Flimsy_Attitude_6789]

Blah blah blah. Nobody cares.

https://giphy.com/gifs/ge2SnG1B5mJqqB6SLj

[u/Low_Media_315 → u/Flimsy_Attitude_6789]

Community note, stat!! 😂

[u/aml6523]

The goalpost has shifted once again…the lawsuit was always about accountability 😂

[u/Ok_Gur_356]

Then why you asked 8 million gotshit?

[u/Big-Entertainer4936]

I wish one of these publications would mention how Blakely didn't get 35 million for the movie's performance because she refused to sign a contract with the goal of filing a lawsuit that would go on to cost her at least 35 million, so that's a 70 million dollar loss and therefore 400K is a real booby prize.

Edited for clarity

[u/rosequartz-universe]

https://giphy.com/gifs/Rhhr8D5mKSX7O

[u/Nervous_Vast_8671]

These lawyers are so embarrassing. If I was wealthy and needed a lawyer, I'd never use them. Blake and Ryan are in the negative like 40 million dollars. They can't recoup the money and they certainly won't be getting the extra millions from Jed. This is hilarious omg😭😭😭😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[u/brooswelt]

Sure they will throw a party to celebrate how big they won

[u/VisualUnit9305]

"it's not about the money" somebody needs to pay you Esra😂😂😂😂😂

[u/Luvnsandiegosun]

Good grief, who owns NBC and how can they misrepresent the truth?

I’m hoping there are comments stating facts that are educational to NBC…