Legal Update: Judge Trims Blake Lively’s Harassment Lawsuit Against Justin Baldoni
A federal judge has dismissed most of the allegations in the sexual harassment lawsuit actress Blake Lively filed against her It Ends with Us co-star, Justin Baldoni. Judge Lewis Liman threw out 10 of the 13 claims, including charges of sexual harassment and defamation.
Lively initiated this legal conflict in 2024, accusing Baldoni of harassment and orchestrating a smear campaign during the production of their film. Baldoni denies these allegations and previously filed a counter-lawsuit, which a judge dismissed last year.
Sigrid McCawley, a member of Lively’s legal team, stated that their case remains focused on the alleged retaliation and efforts to damage the actress’s reputation. She clarified that the court dropped the sexual harassment claims due to technical legal reasons rather than a lack of wrongdoing. Lively intends to testify at the upcoming trial to address what her team describes as a “vicious form of online retaliation.”
A High-Profile Set
The dispute stems from tensions during the filming of It Ends with Us, an adaptation of the Colleen Hoover novel. Lively’s team alleges that Baldoni and his studio, Wayfarer, used social media manipulation and contacts in the media to harm her public image. Evidence in the case even includes text messages between Lively and Taylor Swift.
As the case moves toward trial, all eyes remain on the New York courtroom to see how the remaining claims of retaliation play out.
