A U.S. federal judge has dismissed most of the claims brought by Blake Lively against her “It Ends With Us” co-star and director Justin Baldoni, significantly narrowing the scope of a high-profile legal battle just weeks before trial.
In a ruling issued by District Judge Lewis Liman, 10 out of the 13 claims in Lively’s lawsuit were thrown out. Among the dismissed allegations were key claims of sexual harassment and defamation against Baldoni лично. The decision leaves only three claims moving forward—none of which directly involve Baldoni as an individual defendant.
The remaining claims include allegations of retaliation, aiding and abetting retaliation, and breach of contract. These are directed at other defendants, including Baldoni’s production company Wayfarer Studios, a public relations firm, and the film’s associated LLC.
Lively had originally accused Baldoni of inappropriate conduct during the production of the 2024 film It Ends With Us, alleging that he made sexual remarks, engaged in unplanned intimate scenes, and later orchestrated a campaign to damage her reputation after she raised concerns. Baldoni has consistently denied the allegations, describing the incidents as misunderstandings or contextually relevant discussions tied to the film’s mature themes.
According to the court’s ruling, several of Lively’s claims were dismissed on legal technical grounds. A central issue was her classification as an independent contractor rather than an employee, which limited the applicability of certain workplace harassment protections under U.S. law.
In a statement following the decision, representatives for Wayfarer Studios welcomed the ruling, expressing satisfaction that all sexual harassment claims and those against individual defendants had been dismissed. They emphasized confidence in presenting their defense as the case proceeds.
Lively’s legal team, however, maintained that the core of the case remains intact. Her attorney stated that the trial will focus on alleged retaliation and what Lively describes as a coordinated effort to harm her reputation after she spoke out about on-set concerns.
The case has attracted widespread attention since it first emerged in late 2024, following reports that Lively had filed a complaint with California’s civil rights authorities before pursuing federal litigation. The dispute has since expanded into a broader public and legal clash, including a now-dismissed $400 million defamation lawsuit filed by Baldoni against Lively and her husband, actor Ryan Reynolds.
Jury selection for the trial is scheduled to begin on May 18, with proceedings now expected to center on the remaining claims rather than the initial allegations of sexual harassment. Legal experts note that while the case has been significantly narrowed, it still raises important questions about workplace conduct, retaliation, and reputation management within the entertainment industry.
