Blake Lively fights back: Judge dismisses most claims, but she’s still ready to take Justin Baldoni to trial

Blake Lively’s headline-grabbing sexual harassment lawsuit against Justin Baldoni, her co-star and director of the domestic violence blockbuster ‘It Ends With Us’, has been largely dismissed by a judge. Only a fraction of her claims will move forward to trial, leaving the rest crushed in court.

On Thursday, Judge Lewis Liman threw out 10 of the 13 claims in Lively’s lawsuit. This included allegations of sexual harassment, defamation, and conspiracy, the very accusations that first made headlines. However, three claims survived: breach of contract, retaliation, and aiding and abetting in retaliation. These will head to trial now.

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The judge ruled that Lively couldn’t claim sexual harassment under federal law because she was technically an independent contractor, not an employee. California law couldn’t save her either, since the film was shot in New Jersey.

Alleged publicity war adds more trouble

Lively’s lawsuit also accused Baldoni of hiring a legion of publicists to plant and amplify negative stories about her online. The court allowed two retaliation claims to go to a jury.

Baldoni’s team fired back hard. They argued Lively exaggerated minor on-set grievances to take control of the film and frame him as the villain.

According to his lawyers, the alleged harassment was “nothing more than minor grievances,” and Baldoni had the right to defend himself against what they called false allegations.

Trial on the horizon

The courtroom showdown is set for May. Lively and Baldoni tried to settle matters during a February mediation session with a magistrate judge, but no agreement was reached.

Adding fuel to the gossip fire, pop superstar Taylor Swift has been dragged into the mess, at least in private texts. Swift’s lawyers have worked to keep her officially out of the case, but messages revealed she had opinions. In the fall of 2024, Swift reportedly wrote to Lively that Baldoni was aware “something is coming”. She mocked him, saying he had “gotten out his tiny violin.”

Lively on texts called Baldoni a “clown” and a “doofus director”.

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