Federal judge dismisses most of Blake Lively’s sexual harassment claims against Justin Baldoni in It Ends With Us case
Consensus Summary
A federal judge dismissed the majority of Blake Lively’s sexual harassment claims against Justin Baldoni in their It Ends With Us case, leaving only three claims—breach of contract, retaliation, and aiding in retaliation—for trial on May 18. Judge Lewis Liman ruled Lively, an independent contractor, lacked standing to sue under Title VII, and that Baldoni’s behavior was part of the film’s slow-dancing scenes rather than harassment. Both parties’ lawyers framed the ruling differently: Baldoni’s team called it vindication, while Lively’s attorney argued it was a procedural decision. The case stems from allegations of inappropriate conduct during filming, including Baldoni’s comments about Lively’s appearance and a leaked text exchange with Taylor Swift. It Ends With Us, a domestic violence drama, became a global hit despite the growing rift between the stars.
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Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Federal Judge Lewis Liman dismissed 10 of Blake Lively’s 13 claims against Justin Baldoni in a ruling on 18 April 2024
- The surviving claims are breach of contract, retaliation, and aiding and abetting in retaliation, with a trial scheduled for 18 May 2024
- Judge Liman ruled Lively was an independent contractor (not an employee) and thus could not bring sexual harassment claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
- Lively alleged Baldoni kissed her forehead, rubbed his face against her neck, and made comments like ‘it smells good’ during filming of It Ends With Us
- Judge Liman noted Baldoni was ‘acting in the scene’ and that the conduct was part of a slow-dancing scene between characters, not directed at Lively personally
- Baldoni’s lawyers described the defendants as ‘very good people’ who did not engage in sexual harassment as alleged
- Judge Liman dismissed Baldoni’s $400 million defamation claim against Lively and Ryan Reynolds in June 2024
- It Ends With Us grossed over $350 million globally and was released in August 2024
- Lively’s leaked text messages to Taylor Swift and Ben Affleck were referenced in the Guardian’s coverage, with Swift allegedly replying ‘I’ll do anything for you’
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Lively’s lawyers claimed Baldoni was ‘consistently inappropriate’ with her, including unwanted comments about her appearance and weight
- Lively’s text messages to Taylor Swift included calling Baldoni the ‘doofus director of my movie’ and seeking script rewrite feedback
- Matthew Belloni (former entertainment lawyer) stated the case ‘hurts both of them’ due to prolonged litigation and mudslinging
- Baldoni’s lawyer Bryan Freedman claimed the defendants were ‘not afraid of the truth’ and presented evidence repeatedly
- Lively’s attorney Mike Gottlieb argued the court’s ruling was about legal technicalities, not conduct endorsement
- Judge Liman cited Baldoni’s comment ‘pretty hot’ after asking Lively to remove her jacket, exposing a lace bra, as inappropriate
- Baldoni allegedly rolled his eyes and said ‘Sorry, I missed the sexual harassment training’ after being warned about the comment
- Judge Liman noted Baldoni pushed for a naked birth scene filmed without set closure, and allegedly volunteered his past porn addiction
- Lively claimed Baldoni said she had ‘never seen pornography,’ which Judge Liman called potentially crossing a line
- Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios countersued Lively and Ryan Reynolds for defamation and extortion, which was dismissed in June 2024
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- The Guardian reports Lively’s text to Swift included asking for script rewrite feedback, while ABC does not mention this detail
- The Guardian states Baldoni’s lawyer described the defendants as ‘very good people’ in a statement to AP, but ABC does not reference this exact phrasing
- The Guardian notes Lively’s claims of Baldoni’s ‘kissing, nuzzling, and touching’ without consent, while ABC focuses more on Baldoni’s ‘acting in the scene’ defense
- ABC highlights Baldoni’s alleged ‘pretty hot’ comment and ‘sexual harassment training’ joke, which is not emphasized in the Guardian’s coverage
- The Guardian mentions Lively’s leaked messages to Ben Affleck, but ABC does not reference this aspect of the case
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