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 lawsuit over the film It Ends With Us, leaving only three claims—breach of contract, retaliation, and aiding in retaliation—for trial on May 18. Judge Lewis Liman ruled that Lively, an independent contractor, lacked legal standing to sue under Title VII for sexual harassment, and that Baldoni’s behavior during filming was part of the film’s intimate scenes. The judge cited Lively’s allegations of unwanted physical contact, including Baldoni kissing her forehead and rubbing his face on her neck, but determined these actions were within the bounds of acting. Both sources agree on the dismissal of 10 claims, the remaining three claims, and the trial date, but differ in details like Baldoni’s alleged comments and the framing of the court’s reasoning. The case has drawn public attention due to leaked messages and the film’s box office success despite ongoing litigation.
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Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Judge Lewis Liman dismissed 10 of the 13 claims in Blake Lively’s lawsuit against Justin Baldoni, including sexual harassment, conspiracy, and defamation (Guardian, ABC)
- Only three claims remain: breach of contract, retaliation, and aiding and abetting in retaliation (Guardian, ABC)
- Blake Lively sued Justin Baldoni in December 2023 alleging sexual harassment during filming of It Ends With Us (Guardian, ABC)
- Judge Liman ruled Lively was an independent contractor, not an employee, so her sexual harassment claims under Title VII were invalid (Guardian, ABC)
- The trial is scheduled for May 18, 2024 (Guardian, ABC)
- It Ends With Us grossed over $350 million worldwide (Guardian) and had a $50 million debut (ABC)
- Judge Liman cited Lively’s claims of Baldoni leaning in, kissing her forehead, rubbing his face on her neck, and saying ‘it smells good’ as part of the film’s intimate scenes (Guardian, ABC)
- Baldoni’s lawyer Bryan Freedman described defendants as ‘very good people’ who did not engage in alleged sexual harassment (Guardian)
- Judge Liman dismissed Baldoni’s $400 million defamation claim against Lively and Ryan Reynolds in June 2023 (Guardian, ABC)
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Baldoni’s lawyer Bryan Freedman stated the defendants were ‘not afraid of the truth’ and presented evidence repeatedly (Guardian)
- Lively’s attorney Mike Gottlieb called the court’s ruling on sexual harassment claims ‘about legal issues rather than an endorsement of defendants’ conduct’ (Guardian)
- Lively’s leaked text messages to Taylor Swift and Ben Affleck were referenced, with Swift allegedly replying ‘I’ll do anything for you’ (Guardian)
- The Guardian reached out to Baldoni’s lawyers for additional comment but did not receive a response (Guardian)
- Lively’s claims included Baldoni making unwanted comments about her appearance and weight (Guardian)
- Judge Liman noted Baldoni allegedly said ‘pretty hot’ after asking Lively to remove her jacket, exposing a lace bra (ABC)
- Baldoni allegedly rolled his eyes and responded ‘Sorry, I missed the sexual harassment training’ after being warned about comments (ABC)
- Baldoni pushed for a naked birth scene filmed over hours without set closure (ABC)
- Baldoni allegedly volunteered he had previously been addicted to pornography, and Lively said she had never seen pornography (ABC)
- Judge Liman said Baldoni might have crossed a line by announcing Lively’s lack of pornography exposure to others on set (ABC)
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- The Guardian states Lively’s claims were dismissed due to her being an independent contractor and the conduct occurring in New Jersey (not California), while ABC does not specify the state as a reason for dismissal
- The Guardian mentions Lively’s attorney calling the ruling ‘about legal issues rather than an endorsement of defendants’ conduct,’ but ABC does not include this direct quote or framing
- The Guardian reports Baldoni’s lawyer described the defendants as ‘very good people’ in statements to AP and TMZ, while ABC does not mention these specific statements or sources
- The Guardian references leaked text messages to Taylor Swift and Ben Affleck, while ABC does not mention these details
- The Guardian states the case involves a ‘negative retaliatory campaign’ against Lively, while ABC focuses more on specific alleged comments and behaviors during filming
Source Articles
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