Blake Lively’s Lawsuit Against Justin Baldoni Dismissed
On Thursday, a New York judge dismissed Blake Lively’s sexual harassment lawsuit against Justin Baldoni. The ruling by Judge Louis J. Lehman included the dismissal of claims for defamation, conspiracy, and Title VII violations, while allowing two retaliation claims and one breach of contract claim to persist as former co-stars gear up for trial.
In response to the ruling, Lively’s legal team issued a statement, emphasizing the focus of the case as being the “devastating retaliation” and extreme actions taken by the defendants to harm Lively’s reputation for standing up for safety on set. Sigrid McCauley, part of Lively’s team, said this aspect of the case will be central during the trial, which is scheduled for March 2026.
McCauley added that for Lively, achieving justice means exposing those responsible for what she described as “coordinated digital attacks” and holding them accountable, particularly as other women have faced similar situations. Lively looks forward to her chance to testify and shed light on this form of online retaliation.
The judge concluded that the sexual harassment case stalled not due to any wrongdoing on behalf of the defendants, but rather because Lively was classified as an independent contractor rather than an employee.
Wayfarer Studios also shared their relief over the dismissal of all harassment claims against Baldoni and other individual defendants. They expressed gratitude to the court for considering the substantial evidence presented.
Looking ahead, the remaining claims will be defended in court, with the trial set to begin on May 18. The legal disputes arise from Lively’s and Baldoni’s time working on the film “It Ends With Us,” which was adapted from a novel by Colleen Hoover. Lively’s lawsuit filed in December 2024 accused Baldoni of sexual harassment during production.
Complications escalated when Baldoni, on the same day Lively initiated her suit, filed a $250 million lawsuit against The New York Times over claims relating to alleged smear campaigns against him. Just weeks later, he issued a $400 million defamation lawsuit against Lively and Ryan Reynolds, accusing them of attempting to take control of the film’s narrative.
During a recent conference call, the dismissal of Lively’s harassment claims was discussed, alongside preparations for jury selection for the upcoming trial.
