A federal judge has dismissed the majority of claims in the ongoing legal battle between Blake Lively and her It Ends With Us co-star Justin Baldoni, significantly narrowing the case ahead of trial.
Judge Lewis Liman threw out 10 of the 13 allegations brought by Lively, including claims of harassment and defamation. However, three claims, breach of contract, retaliation, and aiding and abetting retaliation, will proceed to a civil trial in New York scheduled for May 18.
The dispute dates back to 2024, when Lively filed a lawsuit accusing Baldoni of harassment and orchestrating a smear campaign during the production of the film It Ends With Us, an adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel. Baldoni denied the allegations and countersued.
A representative from Lively’s legal team, Sigrid McCawley, said the case “has always been and will remain focused on the devastating retaliation and the extraordinary steps the defendants took to destroy” the actress’s reputation. She clarified that the sexual harassment claims were dismissed due to a technicality, “not because the defendants did nothing wrong,” and confirmed that Lively intends to testify.
Baldoni’s legal team responded by saying they were “grateful to the Court for its careful review,” adding that the case is now “significantly narrowed” and that they look forward to presenting their defense.
The judge’s ruling cited several legal reasons for dismissing the majority of claims. He noted that Lively’s harassment claims under California law did not apply because the alleged incidents occurred in New Jersey, lacking the “substantial connection” required. He also determined that Lively, as an independent contractor rather than an employee, was ineligible to bring certain harassment and retaliation claims.
Additionally, Lively had accused Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, of defamation. However, the judge ruled that statements made by Freedman were directly tied to the ongoing legal dispute and therefore did not meet the standard for defamation.
Still, some retaliation claims remain active. Lively alleges that Baldoni and his public relations team carried out a “coordinated campaign” to damage her reputation through social media manipulation and media narratives. Judge Liman acknowledged that while hiring PR and crisis management teams is permissible, “certain conduct at least arguably crossed the line.”
The case has also involved high-profile connections, including text messages between Lively and Taylor Swift, which were entered as evidence.
Meanwhile, Baldoni had previously filed a $400 million countersuit against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and their publicist, alleging defamation, civil extortion, and invasion of privacy. That lawsuit was dismissed last year, with the court ruling that his claims did not sufficiently demonstrate wrongful conduct.
Baldoni had argued that Lively attempted to “steal the film” by threatening not to promote it and by promoting what he described as a false narrative of harassment. However, the judge found those actions could be interpreted as legally permissible negotiations rather than extortion.
The legal dispute continues to center on events that allegedly took place during filming of the movie, in which Lively plays Lily Bloom, a character navigating the cycle of domestic abuse.
With the trial now set to move forward on a reduced set of claims, both sides are preparing for what could be a closely watched courtroom battle in May.
Source: BBC