Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively's legal fight isn't over
While Justin Baldoni's suit against Blake Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds has been dismissed, she isn't done fighting her claims against her 'It Ends With Us' director and co-star – and Baldoni isn't done fighting back.
Michael Gottlieb, the attorney representing Lively in her civil sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit against Baldoni, told CNN the actress intends to continue pursuing her lawsuit against Baldoni.
In a conversation with Jake Tapper on Monday, Gottlieb said Lively is 'determined to see her claims through and to pursue them to have a full public accountability of what she's alleged happened to her.'
His statement came the same day a judge dismissed Baldoni's $400 million lawsuit against Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds, as well as their publicist. He also dismissed a separate claim from Baldoni against the New York Times, who first reported Lively's allegations.
Gottlieb added that the power couple feels 'vindicated' by the ruling, as well as 'grateful to the individuals and organizations that have stood by Ms. Lively as she's pursued these claims.'
'I think that today is a message that these kind of retaliatory lawsuits that are really designed to silence and punish people who speak up won't work. They are not going to work. They won't be tolerated by our justice system and they will not be successful,' Gottlieb added. 'And I think that's an important message for those who want to speak up against the mistreatment that they may face in their workplaces.'
Baldoni's attorney, Bryan Freedman, responded with a statement provided to CNN on Tuesday.
'Ms. Lively and her team's predictable declaration of victory is false, so let us be clear about the latest ruling,' he said.
'The Court has invited us to amend four out of the seven claims against Ms. Lively, which will showcase additional evidence and refined allegations. This case is about false accusations of sexual harassment and retaliation and a nonexistent smear campaign,' the statement continued. 'With the facts on our side, we march forward with the same confidence that we had when Ms. Lively and her cohorts initiated this battle and look forward to her forthcoming deposition, which I will be taking.
Freedman ended his statement by thanking 'the Internet sleuth community who continue to cover the case with discernment and integrity.'
It was yet another chapter in a nearly year-long legal feud between Lively and Baldoni, which grew to include Reynolds, the couple's publicist, Leslie Sloan, and the New York Times.
Lively filed a civil rights complaint in December 2024 claiming that she was sexually harassed by Baldoni during production of the film and then was retaliated against for speaking up about her alleged mistreatment.
He quickly denied her claims, fling suit against her and Reynolds in January 2025 alleging that the superstar couple sought to 'destroy' him and his career, after hijacking his film, 'It Ends With Us.'
Baldoni also sued the New York Times as the first to report on Lively's allegations of sexual harassment alleging that the newspaper published an article 'rife with inaccuracies, misrepresentations, and omissions' that relied on Lively's 'self-serving narrative.'
Motions to dismiss filed by Lively, Reynolds, Sloan and the New York Times were all granted on Monday.
'We are grateful to the court for seeing the lawsuit for what it was: a meritless attempt to stifle honest reporting,' a spokesperson for the New York Times said on Monday. 'Our journalists went out and covered carefully and fairly a story of public importance, and the court recognized that the law is designed to protect just that sort of journalism. We will continue to stand up in court for our journalism and for our journalists when their work comes under attack.'
In his ruling Monday, the judge held that Baldoni can file an amended complaint on the allegations of tortious interference with contract, relating to Reynolds and Lively, and breach of implied covenant, relating to Lively, by June 23.
Gottlieb acknowledged that the judge's ruling allowed for Baldoni to file an amended complaint relating to what he called 'ancillary or side claims,' but he underscored that the core defamation allegations are 'gone from the case.'
CNN's Elizabeth Wagmeister contributed to this report.
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Egypt Independent
6 hours ago
- Egypt Independent
Israeli forces kill 15-year-old Palestinian boy after settlers attack West Bank towns, officials say
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Zahia Joudeh al-Obeidi 'succumbed to her wounds' after Israeli police stormed Shuafat refugee camp, Palestinian news agency WAFA reported. Israeli police said they launched an investigation into the circumstances of the death of an 'East Jerusalem resident,' adding that the resident was 'pronounced dead' by medical officials upon arrival at Shuafat checkpoint. The killings came on the heels of a spate of attacks in the West Bank town of Kafr Malik, where Israeli settlers set fire to Palestinian homes and vehicles in what one Israeli opposition politician called a 'violent Jewish pogrom.' Several people were killed and wounded, according to Palestinian and Israeli authorities. Rayan Tamer Hawshiya, aged 15, was killed by Israeli forces in a town near Jenin, in northern West Bank, officials say, where violence against Palestinians has spiraled in recent months. Hawshiya Family The details of the deaths in Kafr Malik are unclear. The Palestinian foreign ministry said the settlers opened fire on Palestinian residents, while Israeli authorities said there was a firefight between Palestinian gunmen and Israeli security forces. At least three Palestinians were killed and several were wounded, according to Palestinian officials. The Israeli military said 'several' people were killed in the central town, but did not specify whether they were Palestinian or Israeli. Israel has ramped up military operations in the West Bank, displacing thousands of Palestinians and razing entire communities as it targets what it says are militants operating in the territory. Last year, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said the state 'must deal with the threat (in the West Bank) just as we deal with the terrorist infrastructure in Gaza, including the temporary evacuation of Palestinian residents.' He later warned that the tens of thousands of Palestinians who have fled their West Bank homes would not be allowed to return. Human Rights Watch has accused Israel of inflicting 'massive, deliberate displacement of Palestinian civilians' and making 'much of the territory unlivable' in violation of international law. Israeli settlers have also increased attacks on Palestinian communities and their properties, according to the United Nations' human rights office. Israeli troops or settlers have killed at least 947 Palestinians, among them 200 children, in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, between October 7, 2023 and June 12, the UN reported on June 20. Between October 7, 2023 and June 26, at least 39 Israeli civilians have been killed in the West Bank, according to Israeli government officials. Israel has occupied the West Bank since seizing the territory from Jordan in 1967. In late May, the Israeli government approved the largest expansion of Jewish settlements in the area in decades. The settlements are considered illegal under international law, 'Stripped of basic dignity' In Kafr Malik, social media video geolocated by CNN showed residents panicking as a fire consumed a home and a loud pop rang in the distance. Another video showed a parked car in flames as a resident attempted to extinguish it with a water hose. The IDF said security forces were deployed to the scene after 'dozens of Israeli civilians' had set properties on fire. On arrival, the IDF said, the security forces were met with gunfire and rocks hurled by what it described as 'terrorists' and they returned fire. 'Hits were identified, and it was later reported that there were several individuals injured and fatalities,' the IDF said, adding that five Israelis were arrested. Israeli opposition politician Yair Golan condemned the settler attack, saying: 'What happened this evening in Kafr Malik was a violent Jewish pogrom – dozens of rioters set fire to homes and vehicles, and assaulted Palestinians and security forces.' Palestinian women walk past a charred vehicle, as they survey the destruction wrought Israeli settlers in the West Bank village of Kafr Malik, on Thursday. Ilia Yefimovich/Shortly after the violence in Kafr Malik, there was another settler attack close to the nearby village of Taybeh, according to the Israeli rights organization B'Tselem, which shared footage of masked men torching a parked car. Three people were injured and three cars were set on fire, it said. A third settler attack took place around Jericho, according to the Palestine Red Crescent Society, which said eight people were injured due to smoke inhalation after a house was set on fire. Mourners carry the bodies of young Palestinians who were killed by Israeli settlers in Kafr Malik. The UN has warned that there is 'no respite' for communities there. Ammar Awad/Reuters A UN official warned there has been 'no respite' for Palestinian people in the northern West Bank, where he accused Israel of imposing 'systematic forced displacement' on refugee communities in 'violation of international law.' 'Out of the spotlight of the regional escalation, camps in the northern West Bank have faced ongoing destruction, with dozens of buildings demolished in the last twelve days,' Roland Friedrich, the director of affairs for UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestine refugees in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, posted on X on Wednesday. 'Even now, Israeli security forces are continuing to demolish homes and buildings in Jenin, Tulkarm, and Nur Shams camps. Stripped of basic dignity, many families have not even been able to save their belongings ahead of anticipated bulldozing.'
Egypt Independent
10 hours ago
- Egypt Independent
Israeli forces kill 15-year-old Palestinian boy after settlers attack West Bank towns, officials say
Jerusalem CNN — Israeli forces shot dead a Palestinian teenager in the West Bank on Wednesday, Palestinian health authorities said, as settler violence against Palestinians surged in the occupied territory. The military shot 15-year-old Rayan Tamer Hawshiya in the neck, the Ministry of Health in Ramallah said, after troops raided Al Yamoun, near Jenin. Residents in the northern town reported 'heavy Israeli gunfire,' according to the minstry. The Israeli military said that 'terrorists hurled explosive devices at IDF forces' in Al Yamoun on Wednesday, adding that no IDF injuries were reported. 'Afterward, the forces identified terrorists approaching them while holding additional explosives,' the military told CNN. 'The forces responded with fire, and hits were identified.' Separately, a 66-year-old Palestinian woman died from injuries after Israeli police shot her in the head in occupied East Jerusalem, according to local media reports. Zahia Joudeh al-Obeidi 'succumbed to her wounds' after Israeli police stormed Shuafat refugee camp, Palestinian news agency WAFA reported. Israeli police said they launched an investigation into the circumstances of the death of an 'East Jerusalem resident,' adding that the resident was 'pronounced dead' by medical officials upon arrival at Shuafat checkpoint. The killings came on the heels of a spate of attacks in the West Bank town of Kafr Malik, where Israeli settlers set fire to Palestinian homes and vehicles in what one Israeli opposition politician called a 'violent Jewish pogrom.' Several people were killed and wounded, according to Palestinian and Israeli authorities. Rayan Tamer Hawshiya, aged 15, was killed by Israeli forces in a town near Jenin, in northern West Bank, officials say, where violence against Palestinians has spiraled in recent months. Hawshiya Family The details of the deaths in Kafr Malik are unclear. The Palestinian foreign ministry said the settlers opened fire on Palestinian residents, while Israeli authorities said there was a firefight between Palestinian gunmen and Israeli security forces. At least three Palestinians were killed and several were wounded, according to Palestinian officials. The Israeli military said 'several' people were killed in the central town, but did not specify whether they were Palestinian or Israeli. Israel has ramped up military operations in the West Bank, displacing thousands of Palestinians and razing entire communities as it targets what it says are militants operating in the territory. Last year, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said the state 'must deal with the threat (in the West Bank) just as we deal with the terrorist infrastructure in Gaza, including the temporary evacuation of Palestinian residents.' He later warned that the tens of thousands of Palestinians who have fled their West Bank homes would not be allowed to return. Human Rights Watch has accused Israel of inflicting 'massive, deliberate displacement of Palestinian civilians' and making 'much of the territory unlivable' in violation of international law. Israeli settlers have also increased attacks on Palestinian communities and their properties, according to the United Nations' human rights office. Israeli troops or settlers have killed at least 947 Palestinians, among them 200 children, in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, between October 7, 2023 and June 12, the UN reported on June 20. Between October 7, 2023 and June 26, at least 39 Israeli civilians have been killed in the West Bank, according to Israeli government officials. Israel has occupied the West Bank since seizing the territory from Jordan in 1967. In late May, the Israeli government approved the largest expansion of Jewish settlements in the area in decades. The settlements are considered illegal under international law, 'Stripped of basic dignity' In Kafr Malik, social media video geolocated by CNN showed residents panicking as a fire consumed a home and a loud pop rang in the distance. Another video showed a parked car in flames as a resident attempted to extinguish it with a water hose. The IDF said security forces were deployed to the scene after 'dozens of Israeli civilians' had set properties on fire. On arrival, the IDF said, the security forces were met with gunfire and rocks hurled by what it described as 'terrorists' and they returned fire. 'Hits were identified, and it was later reported that there were several individuals injured and fatalities,' the IDF said, adding that five Israelis were arrested. Israeli opposition politician Yair Golan condemned the settler attack, saying: 'What happened this evening in Kafr Malik was a violent Jewish pogrom – dozens of rioters set fire to homes and vehicles, and assaulted Palestinians and security forces.' Palestinian women walk past a charred vehicle, as they survey the destruction wrought Israeli settlers in the West Bank village of Kafr Malik, on Thursday. Ilia Yefimovich/Shortly after the violence in Kafr Malik, there was another settler attack close to the nearby village of Taybeh, according to the Israeli rights organization B'Tselem, which shared footage of masked men torching a parked car. Three people were injured and three cars were set on fire, it said. A third settler attack took place around Jericho, according to the Palestine Red Crescent Society, which said eight people were injured due to smoke inhalation after a house was set on fire. Mourners carry the bodies of young Palestinians who were killed by Israeli settlers in Kafr Malik. The UN has warned that there is 'no respite' for communities there. Ammar Awad/Reuters A UN official warned there has been 'no respite' for Palestinian people in the northern West Bank, where he accused Israel of imposing 'systematic forced displacement' on refugee communities in 'violation of international law.' 'Out of the spotlight of the regional escalation, camps in the northern West Bank have faced ongoing destruction, with dozens of buildings demolished in the last twelve days,' Roland Friedrich, the director of affairs for UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestine refugees in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, posted on X on Wednesday. 'Even now, Israeli security forces are continuing to demolish homes and buildings in Jenin, Tulkarm, and Nur Shams camps. Stripped of basic dignity, many families have not even been able to save their belongings ahead of anticipated bulldozing.'
Al-Ahram Weekly
3 days ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
US muscle flexing - World - Al-Ahram Weekly
Last week's US strikes against three nuclear sites in Iran likely left most of the country's stockpile of enriched uranium intact Last Sunday, the US started Operation Midnight Hammer and employed a strike force consisting of 125 aircraft, including seven B-2 strategic bombers from the 340th Air Wing, to embark on a 37-hour mission from a base in the United States towards Iran. The formation passed through Syrian and Iraqi airspace, and six bombers dropped 12 GBU-57 bombs on the Fordow nuclear site in Iran, while one bomber dropped two bombs on the Natanz reactor. Simultaneously, the submarine USS Georgia launched 30 Tomahawk cruise missiles against nuclear facilities in Natanz and Isfahan. Following the strikes, the US formation regrouped over the Mediterranean Sea heading towards Gibraltar. The mission was refuelled by 40 tanker aircraft. According to General Dan Cain, the US chief of staff, refuelling planes were sent westwards as a diversion, while the bombers approached from the east. A total of 75 different munitions were employed – 30 Tomahawk missiles, 14 GBU-57 bombs, and additional munitions reportedly launched preemptively to neutralise potential air defence systems configured for ambush tactics. These preemptive munitions were fired from fighter escorts to secure the strike corridor. Based on satellite imagery captured the next day of the Fordow facility, clear damage was observed at two key points within the site. Each location sustained three direct hits, targeting the main underground entrances and the facility's ventilator system. Military sources speaking to the US network Fox News added that the underground nuclear complex in Isfahan was deeper and more fortified than previously estimated and may not have been completely destroyed during the early morning raids. Satellite imagery captured over the past two days revealed intense logistical activity near the Fordow facility, involving 16 trucks operating specifically around the facility's main entrance. These trucks were later seen leaving the site and heading towards an undisclosed location. This aligns with reports from several news agencies suggesting that there had been a prior evacuation of the targeted sites, with 'most' of Iran's enriched uranium stockpile reportedly relocated to secure locations. Senior US officials told the New York Times that they do not know the whereabouts of Iran's stockpile of near-weapons-grade uranium. According to reports, Iran moved approximately 400 kg of 60 per cent enriched uranium, just below weapons-grade, before the US strikes. If these are further enriched to 90 per cent, or weapons-grade, this quantity would be theoretically sufficient to produce 16 tactical nuclear warheads, given that 25 kg of weapons-grade uranium is generally enough for one warhead. Alternatively, 64 kg of 80 per cent enriched uranium could produce a similar yield, according to estimates by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). However, the critical question remains: where could Iran accelerate the required enrichment process following the destruction of the Fordow facility, especially if it possesses another undeclared enrichment site in an unknown location or could ask for help from its allies? The day after the US intervention, Iran launched a limited missile strike consisting of six missiles targeting Udeid Air Base in Qatar and one missile aimed at the Ain Al-Asad Air Base in Iraq. US air defences successfully intercepted the attacks using Patriot PAC-3 MSE systems, an advanced variant specifically enhanced to counter medium-range ballistic missiles and even hypersonic threats. This version of the PAC-3 incorporates upgrades developed from lessons learned in the Russia-Ukraine War, particularly regarding interception timing, radar tracking, and kinetic kill accuracy. After the Iranian attacks, US President Donald Trump stated that 'I am pleased to report that NO Americans were harmed, and hardly any damage was done. Most importantly, they've gotten it all out of their 'system,' and there will, hopefully, be no further HATE. I want to thank Iran for giving us early notice, which made it possible for no lives to be lost, and nobody to be injured.' The US intervention in the conflict between Israel and Iran was deemed necessary to attempt to end the conflict and provide critical guarantees to the Israeli side, particularly concerning Iran's nuclear programme, which, however, was only contained and delayed and not eliminated. According to a writer for the UK-based site Amwaj media speaking on condition of anonymity, a high-ranking Iranian political source confirmed that the Trump administration on 21 June conveyed to Iran that it did not seek an all-out confrontation and only intended to strike the Fordow, Isfahan, and Natanz sites. The message is said to have been delivered by a third party. Importantly, the source also confirmed that the targeted sites were evacuated, with 'most' of Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium kept in secure locations. The Israeli-Iranian conflict is a prime example of modern warfare between Eastern and Western doctrines. Without a doubt, the biggest beneficiaries are Russia, China, and the US due to the potential for engagement in future conflicts that are likely to involve systems similar to those used in this one. The conflict has proven that one of the most critical factors in determining the victory is who possesses logistical support and qualitative superiority during the military operations, both to compensate for losses, on the one hand, and to deliver the most effective operational strikes against the opponent on the other. Initially, Iran relied on the principle of saturation missile fire to create confusion. Through exercises involving massive salvos of missiles (200+), Iran attempted to overwhelm Israel's defence systems, which led to some missiles reaching high-value civilian and military targets such as the Soroka Medical Centre and the Weizmann Institute of Science, a major command centre (Kiryat), and the Nevatim Airbase, even if most were intercepted or their potential damage was minimised. In response, the Israeli Air Force employed a successful strategy of 'interdicting the adversary's reserves,' also known as Air Interdiction. Aircraft flew in formations within Iranian airspace searching for ballistic missile batteries, conducting Dynamic Targeting (DT) and Time-Sensitive Targeting (TST) missions to reduce the offensive capability of the Iranian military and Revolutionary Guard and to curb missile-launch density. Iran adapted by alternating the warheads of its missiles; for example, if a missile contained a Maneuverable Reentry Vehicle (MRV) capable of manoeuvering during the final attack phase, or if the warhead carried submunitions in a cluster configuration, interception would become significantly more difficult or even virtually impossible. The Iranian side also managed to reach deep into Israeli territory using drones. This prompted the deployment of numerous Israeli helicopters and fighter jets to intercept these threats. The tactic involved sending drones towards both the south and the north of the country, marking a significant shift in strategy. This change indicates an attempt by the Iranian forces to adapt operationally to match the defensive capabilities of their adversary and to monitor its performance, while simultaneously posing serious risks to Israeli Air Defence systems and airbases. However, drone strikes may have more of a psychological impact than an operational one. It is difficult to rely on them as a primary strategy, as it requires a large number of drones to effectively target air defence radars. On the other hand, current estimates suggest that Israel's daily cost for missile interception could reach up to $200 million. Thus, the financial burden, along with the depletion of interceptor missiles, poses a significant challenge for the Israeli military. This is despite a previous report noting that Washington has begun replenishing interceptor missiles for the THAAD air-defence systems. US arms-control expert Jeffrey Lewis explained on his X site account that the strikes were 'tactically brilliant but may turn out to be strategic failures. Yes, the strikes on the enrichment plants at Qom (Fordow) and Natanz appear successful. But there has been no effort to strike the enormous underground facility next to Natanz where Iran can make more centrifuges and maybe do other things.' 'In 2022, Iran moved a centrifuge production line to 'the heart of the mountain' there. This facility is huge – we estimated 10,000 m2 or more – and we don't really know what else it might house (like enrichment or conversion).' 'We ought to judge this strike by its real purpose, not the legal camouflage of preemptive self-defence. If the strike leaves the current regime, or something very much like it, in power with a nuclear option then it will have been a strategic failure.' Trump announced the end of the so-called 12-day war by writing 'Congratulations to everyone!' on his social media account. 'It has been fully agreed by and between Israel and Iran that there will be a Complete and Total Ceasefire. I would like to congratulate both Countries, Israel and Iran, on having the Stamina, Courage, and Intelligence to end, what should be called, 'The 12-day war.' This is a w ar that could have gone on for years, and destroyed the entire Middle East, but it didn't, and never will.' The B-2 Spirit The B-2 Spirit, used in the US strikes against Iran, is a fifth-generation strategic bomber with a flying wing design. It has no traditional fuselage or tail, just a sleek, continuous wing structure. This design significantly reduces its radar cross-section to be like a baseball, making it incredibly stealthy, and improves aerodynamic efficiency for long-range missions. It participated in the Kosovo War (Operation Allied Force) in 1999, the Afghanistan conflict (Operation Enduring Freedom) in 2001, the invasion of Iraq (Operation Iraqi Freedom) in 2003, the attacks on Libya (Operation Odyssey Dawn) in 2011, and the Operation Midnight Hammer that deployed GBU-57 bombs for use against Iran. Number built: 21 Entered service: 1 January 1997 Wing Area: 478 m2 Max speed: 0.95 Mach (1,010 Km/h) Combat range: 5,500 Km Armaments: 60,000 lb (2x 30,000 lb GBU-57 bomb), (16 B-61 nuclear bombs), (16 x 2,000 lb GBU-31) and (16 x AGM-186 cruise missiles). * A version of this article appears in print in the 26 June, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
