Wayfarer Studios Ordered to Pay $171,616 to New York Times

Wayfarer Studios New York Times legal fee anti‑SLAPP Blake Lively

A New York Supreme Court judge granted summary judgment in favor of The New York Times, ordering Justin Baldoni’s production company, Wayfarer Studios, to reimburse the newspaper $171,616 in legal fees. The judgment follows the dismissal of Baldoni’s $250 million defamation lawsuit against the Times over its reporting on Blake Lively’s harassment and retaliation allegations during the production of “It Ends With Us.” The court applied New York’s anti‑SLAPP statute, which allows prevailing defendants to recover costs from meritless suits.

The legal battle, which began in December 2024, also involved separate lawsuits between Baldoni and Lively that were settled in May 2025. Amid the ongoing dispute, Baldoni’s wife Emily posted a 13‑year wedding‑anniversary tribute that many observers interpreted as a subtle jab at Lively, further fueling public interest in the case.

Entities

Blake Lively · Gerald Lebovits · Justin Baldoni · The New York Times · Wayfarer Studios

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 4 SOURCES] Justin Baldoni’s defamation lawsuit against the New York Times was dismissed by a judge. www.mandatory.com · dailyguardian.ca · www.tag24.com · bpmoney.com.br
[● 2 SOURCES] U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman dismissed Baldoni’s defamation claims in June 2025. www.mandatory.com · www.tag24.com
[● 4 SOURCES] The lawsuit stemmed from New York Times reporting on sexual‑harassment allegations made by Blake Lively against Baldoni during filming of ‘It Ends With Us’. www.mandatory.com · dailyguardian.ca · www.tag24.com · bpmoney.com.br
[● 2 SOURCES] New York Supreme Court Justice Gerald Lebovits granted summary judgment in favor of the New York Times. dailyguardian.ca · www.tag24.com
[● 2 SOURCES] Baldoni and Lively reached a settlement in May that ended remaining claims without a trial. www.mandatory.com · www.tag24.com
[● 2 SOURCES] Justin Baldoni also sued Blake Lively for defamation, and that case was dismissed. www.mandatory.com · www.tag24.com
[● 4 SOURCES] The New York Times sued Wayfarer Studios under New York’s anti‑SLAPP law to recover legal costs. www.mandatory.com · dailyguardian.ca · www.tag24.com · bpmoney.com.br
[● 4 SOURCES] Wayfarer Studios was ordered to pay the New York Times $171,616 in legal fees. www.mandatory.com · dailyguardian.ca · www.tag24.com · bpmoney.com.br