Blake Lively’s Legal Fight With Justin Baldoni Takes Turn as Case Is Dismissed

Blake Lively is dealing with a major development in her ongoing legal case against her It Ends With Us co-star Justin Baldoni. According to court documents and statements from both legal teams, a judge has dismissed several of her claims, including the sexual harassment allegations that were at the center of the lawsuit.

The situation goes back to the filming of the 2024 movie, where Lively said Baldoni crossed professional boundaries on set. She pointed to moments like an unscripted kiss, a time he allegedly entered her trailer while she was breastfeeding, and an incident involving a producer showing a graphic birth video.

She also mentioned a comment Baldoni made about sexual harassment training, which she felt contributed to an uncomfortable work environment. However, the judge did not dismiss these claims based on whether they happened or not. Instead, the decision was made because of a legal issue.

Lively’s team used California laws in their case, but the movie was filmed in New Jersey. Because of that, the court ruled that those specific laws could not be applied. The judge also dismissed a defamation claim tied to statements made by Baldoni’s lawyer, who had accused Lively of making up parts of her story. In total, ten out of the thirteen claims she originally filed have now been thrown out.

Even with this setback, the case is not over. Three claims are still moving forward and are expected to be part of a trial set for May 18. These focus on retaliation and breach of contract. Lively believes that after she raised concerns about what was happening on set, Baldoni and others tried to damage her reputation.

Her lawyer, Sigrid McCawley, spoke about the situation and explained why the sexual harassment claims were dropped. “Sexual harassment isn’t going forward, not because the defendants did nothing wrong, but because the court determined Blake Lively was an independent contractor, not an employee,” she said.

McCawley also made it clear that Lively plans to continue fighting the case. “She looks forward to testifying at trial and continuing to shine a light on this vicious form of online retaliation so that it becomes easier to detect and fight,” she added.

On the other side, Baldoni’s team said they appreciate the court’s decision and are ready to defend themselves against the remaining claims. While the legal battle continues, both actors are focusing on their careers.

Lively recently appeared in Another Simple Favor and is attached to a new project called The Survival List. Baldoni has been working behind the scenes with Wayfarer Studios. The situation has also affected any talk of a sequel to It Ends With Us. Even though the film made over $350 million worldwide, the tension between the two stars has made a follow-up unlikely.

As the trial date gets closer, attention is growing around the case. The outcome of the remaining claims could have a big impact on both of their careers and how this situation is remembered in the industry.

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