Legal dispute between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni over sexual harassment claims during filming of It Ends With Us
Consensus Summary
A federal judge dismissed the majority of Blake Lively’s sexual harassment claims against Justin Baldoni, leaving only retaliation and breach of contract allegations to proceed to trial on May 18. The lawsuit stemmed from Lively’s allegations of inappropriate behavior during filming of *It Ends With Us*, including unwanted physical contact and comments, while Baldoni argued the conduct was part of the creative process. Both sources confirm the judge ruled Lively was an independent contractor, invalidating her Title VII claims, and that Baldoni’s countersuit for defamation was dismissed. The film, a box office hit grossing over $350 million, became overshadowed by the public feud. While both articles agree on key facts like the trial date and dismissed claims, discrepancies include the exact number of initial claims, specific alleged incidents, and financial figures tied to the countersuit. The case highlights tensions between artistic freedom and workplace boundaries, with Lively’s private messages to celebrities like Taylor Swift further exposing the conflict.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- A federal judge in Manhattan (Lewis Liman) dismissed most of Blake Lively’s sexual harassment claims against Justin Baldoni in a ruling on April 11, 2024
- The lawsuit began in December 2023, with Lively alleging sexual harassment during filming of *It Ends With Us* (2024) and other claims
- Judge Liman ruled Lively was an independent contractor, not an employee, so her sexual harassment claims under Title VII were invalid
- The trial is scheduled to begin on May 18, 2024, focusing on three remaining claims: retaliation, breach of contract, and aiding/abetting retaliation
- Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios countersued Lively and Ryan Reynolds in June 2023, alleging defamation and extortion, which was dismissed by Judge Liman
- *It Ends With Us* grossed over $350 million worldwide and debuted with $50 million (ABC: $72 million adjusted) at the box office
- The film is an adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s 2016 novel, released in August 2024, and explores themes of domestic violence
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Judge Liman cited specific alleged incidents: Baldoni leaned in to kiss Lively, kissed her forehead, rubbed his face against her neck, and said 'It smells good' during filming
- Lively alleged Baldoni pushed for a naked birth scene filmed without set closure, and Baldoni allegedly volunteered he was previously addicted to pornography while Lively claimed she had never seen porn
- Baldoni allegedly said 'pretty hot' after asking Lively to remove her jacket, exposing a lace bra, and rolled his eyes when told it was inappropriate, replying 'Sorry, I missed the sexual harassment training'
- The judge noted Baldoni was 'acting in the scene' and the conduct was 'directed to Lively’s character rather than to Lively herself'
- Lively’s lawsuit included 13 claims initially, with 10 dismissed (including conspiracy and defamation) and three retained (retaliation, breach of contract rider, and two retaliation claims against studios)
- Judge Liman dismissed 10 of 13 claims, leaving breach of contract, retaliation, and aiding/abetting retaliation as the remaining claims
- Lively’s lawyers described Baldoni as 'consistently inappropriate,' alleging he 'kissed, nuzzled, and touched' her without consent
- Lively accused Baldoni of making unwanted comments about her appearance and weight during filming
- The Guardian referenced unsealed text messages between Lively and Taylor Swift, where Lively called Baldoni the 'doofus director of my movie' and Swift allegedly replied 'I’ll do anything for you!'
- The case was described as overshadowing the film’s success, with litigation lasting over a year and mediation failing in April 2024
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- ABC states Lively’s lawsuit included 13 claims initially, while The Guardian states 13 claims were filed but only 10 were dismissed (implying 3 remained, not 13 total)
- ABC reports the film’s debut grossed $50 million (with a $72 million adjusted figure), while The Guardian states it grossed over $350 million worldwide (no mention of $50 million debut)
- ABC specifies Judge Liman dismissed Lively’s emotional distress claims in June 2023, but The Guardian does not mention this timeline for those claims
- The Guardian implies the countersuit by Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios was for $400 million, while ABC does not mention a monetary figure for the countersuit
- ABC details specific alleged incidents (e.g., 'It smells good' comment) as part of the judge’s analysis, while The Guardian does not include these verbatim details
Source Articles
Judge dismisses Lively's sexual harassment claims against Baldoni
A US federal court judge tosses out Blake Lively's sexual harassment claims against It Ends With Us co-star Justin Baldoni, but leaves three more claims intact....
Federal judge throws out most of Blake Lively’s claims against Justin Baldoni
Judge Lewis Liman dismissed 10 of Lively’s 13 claims against Baldoni, including claim of sexual harassment Sign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inbox A federal judge...