Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni Headed Toward Trial After Settlement Talks Collapse in ‘It Ends With Us’ Dispute
Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni did not reach a settlement in their ongoing legal battle tied to the film It Ends With Us, following a six-hour mediation session in federal court in Manhattan on Wednesday.
Both actors appeared in person for the closed-door conference before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah L. Cave. As is typical in such proceedings, the parties were placed in separate rooms while attorneys and the court worked to explore potential terms of resolution. By the end of the day, no agreement had been reached.
Outside the courthouse, Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, confirmed that mediation efforts had been unsuccessful. While he left open the possibility of future negotiations, Freedman indicated the case is now moving toward trial, which is currently scheduled to begin May 18. “We’re looking forward to it,” he said before departing.
The dispute stems from allegations Lively first made public in December 2024, months after the troubled promotional rollout of It Ends With Us. In her complaint, Lively accused Baldoni of sexual harassment and fostering an unsafe working environment during production. She further alleged that Baldoni retained a crisis communications firm to orchestrate a targeted smear campaign against her following behind-the-scenes tensions.
Baldoni has denied the allegations. In early 2025, he filed a $400 million countersuit against Lively, accusing her of defamation and extortion. He also pursued a separate defamation action against The New York Times, which had reported on Lively’s complaint. Both lawsuits were dismissed by a federal judge in June 2025.
The litigation has since expanded to include Baldoni’s crisis management firm, which has defended its actions as standard industry practice when representing a client facing public controversy. The firm maintains it responded appropriately to what it characterized as threats and reputational risks.
The legal fight has generated extensive court filings and public scrutiny, with hundreds of documents and thousands of pages submitted as part of the case. U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman previously described the matter as resembling a “feud between PR firms,” underscoring the reputational stakes involved.
Lively has asserted that the alleged campaign against her caused emotional distress and professional harm, claiming she endured humiliation and damage to her career. Baldoni continues to reject those claims.
The case has also drawn in a number of high-profile figures through unsealed communications and filings. Court documents released last month included emails and text messages suggesting that Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, sought support from prominent friends during the dispute. Names referenced in the filings include Taylor Swift, Jenny Slate, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, and Anna Wintour.
Among the messages made public were exchanges from April 2023 in which Lively allegedly asked Swift to express enthusiasm for script revisions Lively had worked on for a key rooftop scene in the film. In the messages, Lively reportedly described friction with Baldoni over creative decisions and sought Swift’s informal endorsement of her contributions. Swift is said to have responded affirmatively, though neither she nor other individuals named in the filings have been accused of wrongdoing.
With mediation now unsuccessful, attention shifts to the anticipated trial. The proceedings are expected to focus not only on the substance of Lively’s harassment claims and Baldoni’s denials, but also on the broader question of how reputational conflicts unfold in an era shaped by public relations strategy and social media amplification.
Unless a late-stage agreement is reached, the case appears poised to move forward in open court next spring.
