The ongoing legal dispute between actor Blake Lively and actor-director Justin Baldoni over their film “It Ends With Us” has taken a new turn following a recent federal court decision. Lively had accused Baldoni of sexual harassment and defamation related to alleged incidents on the film’s set.
During proceedings, Judge Lewis Liman dismissed 10 of the 13 claims in the case, including several allegations tied to sexual harassment, defamation, and an alleged conspiracy. However, the court allowed certain claims to proceed to trial. The next hearing is scheduled for May 18 at a civil trial court in New York.
Baldoni has denied all allegations, stating that his conduct remained fully professional. Lively, in her complaint, alleged that Baldoni made remarks about her physical appearance and weight on set, which she characterised as constituting sexual harassment.
The dispute between the two began in 2024, when Lively alleged misconduct on the set of the film and accused Baldoni and his team of orchestrating a campaign to damage her reputation. In response, Baldoni denied the claims and filed a countersuit, escalating the legal proceedings.
According to a report by Variety, Lively’s legal team will now focus primarily on the defamation aspect of the case following the court’s dismissal of most sexual harassment-related claims. Attorney Sigrid McCawley, a member of Lively’s legal team, stated that a jury will determine whether Lively was subjected to a retaliatory campaign.
McCawley said the case centres on what she described as “extraordinary actions” and an alleged retaliatory effort to harm Lively’s image. She added that these actions were taken after Lively raised concerns regarding safety on the film set for herself and others. The matter will now proceed to trial on these grounds.
The case reflects a broader pattern of legal disputes in Hollywood in recent years involving allegations of on-set misconduct and defamation. Such cases have drawn attention to questions surrounding professional conduct, workplace boundaries, and accountability within the film industry.
