Ryan Reynolds And his legal team has filed a request for rejection Justin Baldoni‘s complaint against the actor On Tuesday, saying that his accusations claiming that Reynolds called Baldoni “a predator” does not qualify as examples of defamation.
“The entity of mr. Baldoni’s Case Appears to Be Based on Mr. Reynolds Allegedly Privately Calling Mr. Baldoni A ‘Predator,’ But here is the problem: that is not defamation unless they can show that mr. reynolds Did not Believe that status Stament from Reynolds’ Attorneys, Mike Gottlieb and Esra Hudson, to Weekly entertainment. “The complaint does not allege that, and quite the opposite, the allegations of the complaint suggest that Mr. Reynolds really believes that Mr. Baldoni is a predator.”
THE Deadpool and Wolverine Star asks a judge to drop him as a defendant Justin Baldonithe defamation trial, arguing that the It ends with us The director cannot continue him on “injured feelings”.
The deposit – obtained and examined by EW – maintains that on the basis of the evidence presented in the Baldoni complaint, “Mr. Reynolds really, perhaps passionately, that Mr. Baldoni’s behavior East The reflects of a “predator”. “He also affirms that even if Reynolds does not believe that Baldoni is a” predator “, calling him a” equivalent to an opinion protected by the Constitution “.
The motion also addresses the assertion that the character of nicepool presented in Reynolds’ Deadpool and Wolverine The film was Used to make fun of the Baldoni public personality. Reynolds’ lawyers argue that “indignation to the thin skin of Baldoni in front of a film character does not even pretend to be linked to legal allegations” and is rather than Baldoni alleging that he “injured the feelings”.
Araya Doheny / Variety via Getty; Disney / Marvel
The deposit also indicates that despite the wife of Reynolds, Blake Livelyengaging In a legal battle in progress with Baldoni and its sales partnersReynolds has “nothing” to do with the situation beyond being a “support spouse”.
“Mr. Reynolds’ wife accused Mr. Baldoni – in private and in several complaints – sexual harassment and reprisals,” said Reynolds lawyers. “Mr. Reynolds has the right to the first amendment to express his opinion on Mr. Baldoni, who should be comforting for a group of people who have repeatedly called Ms. Lively and the intimidators of Mr. Reynolds and other names in the past year.”
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In a declaration at TmzBaldoni’s lawyer Bryan Freedman criticized Reynolds’ request in dismissal, declaring: “After turning on a match, Reynolds now seeks to flee the flames. This will not work.”
He continued: “Mr. Reynolds was a key player in the program, defaming Justin around Hollywood, WME in a strong hand in the abolition of Justin as a customer, and trying to destroy Justin’s career as possible. His fingerprints were everywhere in this defamation campaign against Justin and the way in the first day.”
NBC / Kevin Mazur / NBC via Getty
He continued to reference Reynolds’ SNL50 appearance, Distant: “The claims against him are real, and they are serious. Mr. Reynolds may appear on as many sketches as he wishes and are weakly trying to shed light on his current situation, but we will not stop as long as he is not held responsible for his actions.”
Baldoni representatives did not immediately respond to EW’s comments.
In January, Baldoni brought a legal action of $ 400 million against Lively and Reynolds on the stormy situation behind the scenes of It ends with us. There is accused the couple of diverting the film and orchestrating a smear campaign against him, alleging defamation, civil extortion and breach of contract.
Lively put her own action against Baldoni And Wayfarer Studios after having filed a complaint with the California civil rights department in December, accusing his Costar and director of sexual harassment on the set and orchestrating a defamation campaign against her.