Justin Baldoni’s Wayfarer Studios Ordered to Pay More Than $170K to ‘New York Times’ After Lawsuit
Court documents say the studio must cover the newspaper’s fees after Judge Lewis J. Liman dismissed Baldoni’s lawsuit.
- On July 27, New York Supreme Court Justice Gerald Lebovits ordered Wayfarer Studios to pay $171,616 in legal costs to The New York Times after the production company's defamation lawsuit was dismissed.
- The conflict began after The New York Times published a December 2024 investigation into allegations against Justin Baldoni, prompting Wayfarer Studios to sue, claiming the report 'cherry-picked' information about Baldoni's dispute with Blake Lively.
- Justice Lebovits ruled the lawsuit targeted reporting on a public interest matter, finding Wayfarer's claims lacked 'a substantial basis in fact and law,' and rejected the company's request to delay payment.
- Although The New York Times requested more than $181,000 in legal fees, the judge reduced the amount after determining some work performed after the federal case ended was non-recoverable.
- This ruling concludes the 'It Ends With Us' legal saga following Baldoni and Lively's May 2026 settlement, as the production company stated it remains committed to workplaces 'free of improprieties.
17 Articles
17 Articles
Justin Baldoni’s Studio Now Faces a Costly Consequence in NYT Fight
Photo Credit: Sony Pictures Releasing Justin Baldoni‘s production company Wayfarer Studios has taken a legal hit. The studio’s unsuccessful defamation lawsuit against the NYT has led to a major court decision. Wayfarer Studios must now pay a hefty amount in damages to the newspaper. Justin Baldoni’s Studio must pay $171K after unsuccessful defamation lawsuit A court has shut down Wayfarer Studios’ defamation lawsuit against the New York Times ov…
Justin Baldoni’s Wayfarer Studios Ordered to Pay New York Times $171K in Damages
Justin Baldoni’s Wayfarer Studios was ordered to pay The New York Times more than $171,000 in damages after a judge dismissed its defamation lawsuit against the publication over its bombshell report on Blake Lively’s sexual harassment and smear campaign allegations related to It Ends With Us.“We’re delighted by the court’s decision,” a spokesperson for The New York Times said in a statement. The anti-SLAPP statute is designed to combat exactly t…
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