Ryan Reynolds Counters Justin Baldoni’s Defamation Lawsuit, Calls Claims ‘Hyperbole’

Ryan Reynolds is firing back in court, asking for the dismissal of Justin Baldoni’s eye-popping $400 million defamation lawsuit. Baldoni’s lawsuit accuses Reynolds and his wife, Blake Lively, of civil extortion, defamation, and other serious claims. But Reynolds’ legal team isn’t buying it.

The crux of Baldoni’s complaint reportedly revolves around Reynolds calling him a ‘predator’—not once, but twice. Reynolds’ legal team argues that this doesn’t qualify as defamation, given the actor’s genuine belief in the statement. And honestly, when someone’s accused of mistreating women and pushing boundaries of consent, it’s pretty hard to say Reynolds didn’t have some strong feelings on the matter.

Legal documents obtained by Fox News Digital detail Reynolds’ stance, claiming he has a First Amendment right to express his opinion. His team also noted that Baldoni himself has openly admitted to past behavior involving mistreatment of women. Yikes.

Adding fuel to the fire, Baldoni’s lawsuit claims Reynolds mocked him through the “Deadpool” character ‘Nicepool,’ allegedly designed to ridicule Baldoni’s appearance and behavior. Baldoni’s lawyer even went on record saying, “There’s no question [Nicepool] relates to Justin,” citing the character’s hair bun and remarks about pregnancy as clear digs. Now, while parody can sting, let’s not forget it’s an art form—and Reynolds is kind of a master at it.

Reynolds’ motion to dismiss didn’t hold back, labeling Baldoni’s lawsuit as long on drama but short on actual legal facts. It described the suit as a “burn book filled with grievances attempting to shame Mr. Reynolds” for standing by his wife’s allegations against Baldoni. The motion makes it clear Reynolds isn’t about to be dragged through courtroom theatrics without evidence to back it up.

Baldoni’s initial lawsuit also accused Lively of harassment and retaliation, a claim stemming from their work together on the Colleen Hoover-adapted film “It Ends With Us.” Since the movie’s premiere, Lively has alleged Baldoni ran a smear campaign to tarnish her reputation. It’s a classic case of drama spilling from the silver screen into real life.

Both sides seem entrenched in their positions, with Baldoni requesting a jury trial and a whopping $400 million judgment. Whether the case makes it to trial or fizzles out remains to be seen. But one thing’s for sure—this Hollywood feud is more compelling than some of the movies these stars have been in.