A New York federal judge on April 3, 2026, gutted much of actress Blake Lively’s sexual harassment lawsuit against It Ends With Us co-star and director Justin Baldoni, dismissing 10 of her 13 claims on legal technicalities rather than the merits of her allegations.
The high-stakes battle erupted in December 2024 when Lively sued Baldoni, his Wayfarer Studios, and associates including publicists Jennifer Abel and Melissa Nathan, accusing him of creating a hostile set environment through inappropriate conduct like boundary violations and improvised kissing scenes, followed by a retaliatory smear campaign that damaged her reputation. Baldoni fired back with a $400million countersuit alleging defamation and extortion, which was previously dismissed, though he has vehemently denied Lively’s claims throughout the saga.
The case, which exploded amid the blockbuster film’s promotional push highlighting their on-screen chemistry, has fueled intense Hollywood scrutiny over power dynamics, on-set safety, and PR warfare.
US District Judge Lewis J. Liman allowed three key retaliation-related claims against Wayfarer and PR defendants to advance, setting a trial for May 18, 2026, where both stars are expected to testify.
Why were these claims thrown out?
The judge ruled that Lively was an independent contractor rather than an employee. This status disqualified her from bringing sexual harassment claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which only protects employees.
Some claims were dismissed because the alleged misconduct occurred in New Jersey, while the suit was brought under California law.
Judge Liman noted that while some of Baldoni’s alleged on-set behavior might be considered “unwelcome,” it fell within the boundaries of creative experimentation expected during the filming of intimate or emotionally charged scenes.
The case will now focus on allegations that Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios, waged a retaliatory “smear campaign” to damage Lively’s reputation after she voiced her concerns about his behavior.
How did Lively and Baldoni react?
Lively’s attorney Sigrid McCawley clarified that the dismissal was based on “technicalities” and that the “beating heart” of the case remains the “devastating retaliation” Lively faced for standing up for on-set safety.
Blake Lively released a statement via Instagram to emphasize that despite the dismissals, she is “grateful” the ruling allows the “heart of [her] case”, specifically the allegations of pervasive retaliation, to proceed to a jury trial. She described the experience of the alleged smear campaign and online backlash as “unfathomable and unfathomably painful.”
Baldoni’s attorneys Jonathan Bach and Alexandra Shapiro expressed gratitude for the court’s “careful review” and stated they are “very pleased” to have the harassment and individual claims dismissed, leaving a “significantly narrowed case”. Justin Baldoni has not personally issued a public statement.
His attorneys emphasized that they look forward to presenting their defense against the remaining claims at the trial scheduled for May 18, 2026.
Read also: Blake Lively-Justin Baldoni’s “It Ends With Us” Legal Drama
