A judge has dismissed Blake Lively’s sexual harassment lawsuit against Justin Baldoni, invalidating her lawsuit that made headlines after the release of the domestic violence film “It Ends with Us.”
In a ruling issued Thursday, Judge Louis Lehman dismissed 10 of the 13 claims in Lively’s lawsuit, including allegations of harassment, defamation and conspiracy. He agreed to proceed to trial on three claims, including claims of breach of contract, retaliation, and aiding and abetting retaliation.
Lively, the female lead, accused Baldoni, her director and co-star, of sexually harassing her on set by making unwelcome comments about her appearance and weight.
Mr. Lehman ruled that Mr. Lively could not bring a sexual harassment lawsuit under federal law because she was an independent contractor. The court also ruled that because the shooting took place in New Jersey, no harassment claims could be brought under California law.
She also alleged that Mr. Baldoni retaliated against her by hiring a publicist to spread and amplify negative stories online. The judge ruled that the two retaliation claims deserved to be tried by a jury.
“We are very pleased that the court dismissed all sexual harassment claims and all claims brought against the individual defendants,” said attorneys Alexandria Shapiro and Jonathan Buck, who represented Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios, and their publicists. “These are very serious allegations, and we are grateful to the court for carefully considering the facts, the law, and the extensive evidence provided. What remains is a fairly narrow case, and we look forward to defending the remaining allegations in court.”
Sigrid McCauley, a member of Lively’s legal team, noted that a jury will have the final say on whether Lively was the victim of a retaliatory smear campaign.
“This case has been, and continues to be, focused on the devastating retaliation and extraordinary steps the defendants took to destroy the reputation of Blake Lively, who stood up for safety on set, and that is the case that will be tried,” McCauley said. “For Blake Lively, the greatest measure of justice is that the people and methods behind these coordinated digital attacks are exposed and are already being held accountable by the other women they targeted. She looks forward to testifying at trial and continues to shine a light on this vicious form of online retaliation so it is easier to discover and fight.”
Baldoni and his lawyers argued that Lively seized control of the film and made exaggerated accusations of misconduct to cast Baldoni as the villain. Baldoni’s team argued that the allegations about Lively’s on-set behavior were only “minor grievances” and that she had the right to defend herself against what she deemed to be false allegations.
It Ends With Us grossed $350 million worldwide, making it a notable hit of 2024. But the film’s release has been overshadowed by persistent rumors of a rift between the two leads, leading to more than a year of messy litigation.
“The whole thing is a disaster,” Tom Rothman, head of film at Sony Pictures Entertainment, wrote in an August 2024 email summarizing the situation. “It doesn’t really matter who’s right or who’s wrong. Chaos is what the story is now and what defines this movie. No one will be able to see this movie the same way. It’s tragic.”
The trial is scheduled to take place in May. Mr. Baldoni and Mr. Lively attended mediation with a magistrate in February, but no settlement was reached.
The fight has involved several celebrities, most notably Taylor Swift, whose lawyers were trying to keep her out of the lawsuit. In a text message to Lively in the fall of 2024, Swift referred to Baldoni disparagingly, saying, “I think this bitch knows something’s going to happen because she got that little violin out.”
Lively also sent a message to Swift, saying Baldoni was a “clown” and a “stupid director.”
