In a ruling issued late Thursday, U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman dismissed 10 of the 13 claims in Blake Lively’s federal lawsuit against Justin Baldoni, significantly narrowing one of Hollywood’s most publicized legal battles.
The decision tosses out Lively’s core allegations of sexual harassment, defamation and conspiracy against her “It Ends With Us” co-star and director, but leaves intact three retaliation-related claims that will proceed to a civil jury trial scheduled for May 18 in Manhattan federal court.
The case, which has captivated audiences since late 2024, stems from behind-the-scenes tensions during the production and promotion of the 2024 romantic drama based on Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel about domestic violence.
What began as reported creative differences has escalated into dueling accusations of workplace misconduct, a retaliatory smear campaign and multimillion-dollar countersuits, a saga that has played out in court filings, leaked texts, social media and tabloid headlines.
The Film and Early Tensions
“It Ends With Us,” released by Sony Pictures on Aug. 9, 2024, starred Lively as Lily Bloom, a florist escaping an abusive marriage, and Baldoni as her husband Ryle Kincaid. Baldoni also directed and produced the project through his company Wayfarer Studios.
The film was a commercial success, grossing more than $350 million worldwide on a modest budget, but its promotion quickly became overshadowed by rumors of discord.
Lively has alleged that during filming in New Jersey in 2023, Baldoni and producer Jamey Heath created a hostile work environment. Specific claims included Baldoni improvising unwanted kisses and intimate touching during romantic scenes, making comments about her body and his own sex life, entering her trailer while she was undressed or breastfeeding, and discussing his genitalia in her presence.
Lively said she complained to the studio, leading to a post-strike meeting where safeguards were discussed, including an intimacy coordinator and restrictions on certain behavior.
Baldoni and Wayfarer have consistently denied the allegations, describing them as “completely false” and part of an effort by Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds to seize creative control of the project.
Promotion Backlash and the Smear Campaign Allegations
The film’s press tour amplified existing friction. Lively promoted the movie with a lighthearted tone, encouraging fans to “grab your friends and wear your florals” which drew criticism for downplaying the story’s serious themes of domestic abuse and alcoholism.
Baldoni largely appeared in solo interviews, and cast members were notably absent from joint events with him. Social media, particularly TikTok, fueled speculation of a feud, with users noting unfollows and Reynolds’ uncredited rewrite contributions.
In December 2024, Lively filed a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department alleging sexual harassment and a retaliatory smear campaign orchestrated by Baldoni’s team after she raised concerns.
The New York Times published a detailed exposé based on the filing, citing texts allegedly from Baldoni’s crisis PR specialists (including Melissa Nathan, who had worked with Johnny Depp) discussing strategies to “bury” Lively and shift public opinion. Lively claimed this digital army seeded negative stories portraying her as difficult or out of touch.
On Dec. 31, 2024, Lively formalized her claims in a federal lawsuit in New York against Baldoni, Wayfarer, and the PR team, seeking damages for retaliation, breach of contract and related violations.
The Legal Back-and-Forth
Baldoni responded aggressively. In January 2025, he and his associates filed a $400 million countersuit against Lively, Reynolds and their publicist, accusing them of extortion, defamation and invasion of privacy.
He also sued The New York Times for libel. Court documents released over time included unsealed texts involving Lively’s friend Taylor Swift, Sony executives criticizing Lively’s approach, and depositions from cast members like Jenny Slate describing Baldoni’s behavior as “gross.”
Key turning points followed:
- June 2025: Judge Liman dismissed Baldoni’s $400 million defamation suit against Lively, Reynolds and the Times (Baldoni missed a deadline to amend, ending it fully by late 2025).
- February 2026: Court-ordered settlement talks between the parties failed after six hours.
- January–March 2026: Further exhibits and motions; trial date shifted from March to May 18 due to the judge’s schedule.
- April 2, 2026: In a 152-page decision, Judge Liman dismissed 10 of Lively’s 13 claims, including all sexual harassment allegations, largely on technical grounds (Lively was an independent contractor, and alleged conduct occurred outside California jurisdiction). The remaining claims focus on retaliation, breach of contract against Wayfarer Studios, and aiding-and-abetting retaliation against the PR firm. Individual defendants, including Baldoni personally on most counts, were largely removed.
Lively’s legal team called the ruling a technicality and emphasized that “the beating heart” of the case, the alleged retaliation and smear campaign, remains intact. “Ms. Lively looks forward to testifying at trial and continuing to shine a light on this vicious form of online retaliation,” a statement said. Baldoni’s attorneys described it as a “significant narrowing,” noting all harassment claims and those against individuals were tossed.
Public Opinion: A Shifting, Polarized Landscape
Reactions across platforms have been volatile and deeply divided. During the film’s promotion, social media backlash targeted Lively for perceived tone-deaf marketing, with TikTok videos amassing millions of views criticizing her as out of touch. Sentiment data showed negative views of Lively spiking, while Baldoni initially enjoyed more positive coverage.
The December 2024 New York Times article and Lively’s lawsuit prompted a wave of support for her, framing the story through a #MeToo lens and drawing statements from cast members and advocates. However, Baldoni’s countersuit, released texts and PR filings shifted narratives again. By early 2025, analyses showed negative sentiment rising for both stars, with many observers expressing fatigue over the “he said, she said” Hollywood drama.
On X and Reddit, discussions remain polarized. Recent posts following Thursday’s ruling celebrate it as a “major win” for Baldoni, questioning Lively’s claims, while others stress that retaliation allegations will still reach a jury.
Conservative outlets have at times amplified skepticism toward Lively; mainstream entertainment coverage has focused on the PR war and legal strategy. Broader commentary highlights how both reputations have suffered, Lively lost followers and faced brand scrutiny, while Baldoni saw professional setbacks including agency representation changes.
What’s Next and Broader Implications
With the May 18 trial approaching, both sides are preparing for testimony that could include further details of on-set conduct, text messages and PR tactics. No further settlement talks are currently scheduled, and attorneys have signaled readiness for a full airing in court.
The dispute has broader ramifications for Hollywood. It underscores ongoing tensions around intimacy coordinators, power dynamics in producer-actor roles, and the weaponization of crisis PR and social media in disputes.
It also tests the limits of retaliation claims in the post-#MeToo era, especially for high-profile independent contractors. Legal experts note the narrowed scope still allows a jury to hear much of the underlying evidence through the surviving claims.
As the case moves forward, it serves as a reminder that in the age of instant digital scrutiny, even blockbuster successes can become battlegrounds for personal and professional reckonings, with public opinion as unpredictable as any courtroom verdict.
