Federal judge dismisses most of Blake Lively’s claims against Justin Baldoni in lawsuit
Consensus Summary
A federal judge dismissed the majority of Blake Lively’s claims against Justin Baldoni, including sexual harassment and defamation, leaving only breach of contract, retaliation, and aiding and abetting retaliation for trial in May 2026. Judge Lewis Liman ruled that Lively, an independent contractor, could not pursue harassment claims under Title VII, and that Baldoni’s conduct during filming of *It Ends With Us* (2024) was part of the movie’s scenes rather than harassment. Both sides have accused each other of misconduct: Lively alleges Baldoni orchestrated a retaliatory PR campaign, while Baldoni’s lawyers deny wrongdoing and argue the court’s decision validates their position. The case has drawn attention to private messages between Lively and celebrities like Taylor Swift, and the film’s release was overshadowed by rumors of conflict between the co-stars.
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Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Federal Judge Lewis Liman dismissed 10 of the 13 claims in Blake Lively’s lawsuit against Justin Baldoni, including sexual harassment, conspiracy, and defamation.
- Three claims remain in Lively’s lawsuit: breach of contract, retaliation, and aiding and abetting in retaliation.
- Judge Liman ruled that Lively’s sexual harassment claims could not proceed because she was an independent contractor, not an employee, under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
- The trial is scheduled for May 18, 2026, after mediation failed in March 2026.
- Lively’s lawsuit stems from allegations of inappropriate behavior by Baldoni during filming of *It Ends With Us* (2024), including unwanted physical contact and comments about her appearance.
- Judge Liman cited Baldoni’s conduct as part of the film’s scenes, stating it was ‘acting in the scene’ and not sexual harassment.
- Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, described the defendants as ‘very good people who have not engaged in this sexual harassment as alleged’ in statements to AP and TMZ.
- Lively’s lawyers claimed Baldoni was behind a retaliatory campaign to smear her reputation online after rumors of conflict surfaced post-*It Ends With Us* release in August 2024.
- Baldoni and producer Jamey Heath hired a crisis PR team after rumors of a rift between them and Lively began circulating.
- *It Ends With Us* grossed over $350 million worldwide upon release in 2024.
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Lively’s unsealed text messages to Taylor Swift called Baldoni the ‘doofus director of my movie’ and asked for thoughts on rewriting the screenplay; Swift allegedly replied: ‘I’ll do anything for you!’
- Lively’s lawyers claimed Baldoni ‘kissed, nuzzled and touched’ her without consent, including making unwanted comments about her appearance and weight.
- Judge Liman dismissed Baldoni’s $400 million defamation claim against Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds in June 2025.
- Former entertainment lawyer Matthew Belloni told the Guardian that the prolonged litigation ‘hurts both of them’ by slinging mud.
- Lively’s attorney Mike Gottlieb stated the court’s ruling on harassment claims was due to ‘legal technicalities’ (independent contractor status, jurisdiction) rather than an endorsement of Baldoni’s conduct.
- Judge Liman noted Baldoni allegedly said ‘pretty hot’ after Lively removed her jacket, exposing a lace bra, and later rolled his eyes when warned it was inappropriate, saying ‘Sorry, I missed the sexual harassment training.’
- Baldoni allegedly pushed for Lively to perform a birth scene naked, with the set not closed to non-essential personnel, and later announced to others that Lively had ‘never seen pornography.’
- Judge Liman wrote that while discussing personal experiences related to sex may be part of the creative process, Baldoni ‘crossed the line’ by announcing Lively’s lack of pornography exposure to others on set.
- *It Ends With Us* exceeded box office expectations with a $50 million ($72 million AUD) debut in August 2024.
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- The Guardian states Baldoni’s $400 million defamation claim was dismissed in June 2025, while ABC does not mention this specific date or claim.
- Guardian reports Lively’s emotional distress claims were dismissed by Liman in June 2025, but ABC does not reference this dismissal explicitly.
- Guardian includes a quote from Lively’s lawyer Mike Gottlieb about the court’s ruling being due to ‘legal technicalities,’ while ABC does not provide a direct lawyer quote on this point.
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