A federal judge has rejected Blake Lively’s sexual harassment allegations against actor and director Justin Baldoni, significantly narrowing her case concerning their 2024 romantic film “It Ends With Us.”
U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman issued a 152-page ruling after over a year of contentious legal battles over the movie, where Lively and Baldoni starred together, with Baldoni directing. Lively’s attorney, Esra Hudson, contended during a court session in January that Baldoni repeatedly overstepped boundaries, such as adding unnecessary sexual content beyond the script.
Hudson cited instances like a dance sequence where Baldoni “nuzzled” Lively without her consent and a scene where Lively’s character was pressured to wear minimal clothing and simulate nudity during a birth scene. Judge Liman noted that Baldoni’s alleged actions seemed aimed at Lively’s character rather than Lively herself.
The judge emphasized the importance of allowing creative professionals to experiment within the confines of an agreed script without facing sexual harassment accusations. Liman also mentioned that Lively could still argue before a jury that Baldoni’s production company, Wayfarer Studios, retaliated against her after she raised concerns about misconduct on the film set.
Lively’s lawyer, Sigrid McCawley, expressed her client’s readiness to testify and present evidence of efforts to tarnish her reputation for speaking up about safety issues during filming. Baldoni’s legal team welcomed the dismissal of the sexual harassment claims and reiterated their commitment to defending against the remaining allegations of retaliation and breach of contract.
The case is set to proceed to trial on May 18, focusing on Lively’s claims of retaliation rather than sexual harassment. The lawsuit has garnered significant attention in Hollywood, involving high-profile figures like singer Taylor Swift, model Gigi Hadid, and actor Hugh Jackman, who may provide supportive information for Lively’s assertions.
Lively had filed the lawsuit against Baldoni and Wayfarer in December 2024, seeking damages for harassment, defamation, invasion of privacy, and civil rights violations. The legal battle between the actors escalated when Baldoni countersued for defamation, alleging attempts to tarnish his reputation. The movie “It Ends With Us,” despite mixed reviews, achieved global box office success exceeding $351 million.
