The Hollywood legal drama between Ryan Reynolds and Justin Baldoni is heating up, with Reynolds finally speaking out in a fiery motion to dismiss Baldoni’s $400 million defamation lawsuit.

The lawsuit, which stems from allegations that Reynolds defamed Baldoni by calling him a “sexual predator” and mocking him through the Deadpool & Wolverine character Nicepool, has turned into a high-stakes battle over reputation and free speech.

But Reynolds isn’t backing down. His legal team argues that Baldoni’s claims are nothing more than “hurt feelings” and that expressing personal disdain—even in a blockbuster film—isn’t grounds for legal action.

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Ryan Reynolds Pushes Back: ‘Hurt Feelings’ Aren’t a Lawsuit

Ryan Reynolds isn’t mincing words when it comes to Justin Baldoni’s lawsuit. In a motion filed Tuesday, Reynolds’ legal team asked the court to dismiss Baldoni’s $400 million defamation case, arguing that the lawsuit is based on “thin-skinned outrage” rather than legitimate legal claims.

At the center of this Hollywood legal battle? A character named Nicepool in Deadpool & Wolverine, which Baldoni claims was a direct attack on him, as well as allegations that Reynolds and his wife, Blake Lively, worked to damage his reputation. But Reynolds’ lawyers say otherwise.

According to court documents, Reynolds acknowledges his personal dislike for Baldoni but maintains that expressing negative opinions—even harsh ones—is protected under the First Amendment.

“Mr. Reynolds has a First Amendment right to hold Mr. Baldoni—or any man who Mr. Reynolds believes sexually harassed his wife—in ‘deep disdain,’” the motion states.

Simply put, Reynolds argues that calling someone a “predator,” whether or not they like it, is an opinion—not defamation.

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The Battle Over Nicepool in Deadpool & Wolverine

Baldoni’s lawsuit claims that Nicepool—a “woke feminist” character in Deadpool & Wolverine—was designed as a direct and public mockery of him. He further alleges that Reynolds called him a “sexual predator” and pressured talent agency WME to drop him.

But Reynolds’ legal team isn’t disputing the character’s existence or its connection to Baldoni. Instead, they argue that if Reynolds believes Baldoni’s behavior is reflective of a predator, he has the right to express that opinion.

A Look at the Legal Arguments:

Baldoni’s Claims	Reynolds’ Defense
The Nicepool character is a personal attack	Satirical portrayals are protected speech
Being called a “predator” is defamatory	It’s an opinion, not a statement of fact
Reynolds tried to ruin his career	Expressing dislike isn’t defamation

Reynolds’ legal motion makes it clear: Baldoni’s lawsuit is more about “hurt feelings” than legal wrongdoing.

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What’s Next in the Hollywood Showdown?

This legal fight is far from over. Baldoni has also sued Blake Lively, The New York Times, and others, claiming they worked together to tarnish his reputation. Meanwhile, Lively has fought to keep her private communications out of the case.

As the drama unfolds, one thing is certain—this Hollywood feud is only heating up.

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Q&A: Breaking Down the Lawsuit

Why is Justin Baldoni suing Ryan Reynolds?

Baldoni claims Reynolds defamed him by allegedly calling him a “sexual predator” and portraying him in a negative light through the Nicepool character in Deadpool & Wolverine.

What is Ryan Reynolds’ defense?

Reynolds argues that his statements about Baldoni are protected opinions under the First Amendment and that Baldoni’s lawsuit is based on “hurt feelings,” not legal grounds.

Did Ryan Reynolds deny creating Nicepool as a mockery of Baldoni?

No, but his legal team argues that satire and personal opinions aren’t defamation.

Is Blake Lively involved in the lawsuit?

Yes. Baldoni has also sued Blake Lively, alleging that she and her PR team collaborated with The New York Times to damage his reputation.

Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni’s Legal Showdown: What’s Really Happening?

Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni’s Legal Showdown: What’s Really Happening?

What happens next?

The court will decide whether to dismiss Reynolds from the lawsuit or allow it to proceed. Either way, this case is far from over.

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This Hollywood feud isn’t just about defamation—it’s about reputation, power, and the thin line between free speech and legal liability. With a $400 million lawsuit at stake, all eyes are on the courtroom.

Sources:

• Business Insider: “Ryan Reynolds says in court docs there’s nothing wrong with calling Justin Baldoni a ‘predator'” Business Insider
• People: “Ryan Reynolds’ Rep Calls Him ‘the Man’ Justin Baldoni ‘Built His Brand Pretending to Be’ in Fiery New Statement” People.com
• New York Post: “Ryan Reynolds blasts Justin Baldoni as a ‘predator’ as he files to dismiss ‘It Ends With Us’ director’s $400M defamation suit” New York Post
• Page Six: “Ryan Reynolds doubles down on claim Justin Baldoni is a ‘predator’ as he tries to get lawsuit dismissed” Page Six
• Fox News: “Ryan Reynolds accused of bullying Justin Baldoni” Fox News
• CNN: “Ryan Reynolds requests to be dropped from Justin Baldoni’s lawsuit” CNN
• E! Online: “Justin Baldoni’s Attorney Slams Ryan Reynolds’ Motion for Dismissal” E! Online
• Dick Thomas Johnson from Tokyo, Japan, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

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