Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni Resolve ‘It Ends With Us’ Legal Battle Without Financial Settlement
The legal dispute between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni over the production of It Ends With Us has officially come to an end, with both actors entering into a settlement just two weeks before the trial was scheduled to begin in New York.
Lively agreed to drop her remaining claims that Baldoni and his company, Wayfarer Studios, retaliated against her after she accused him of inappropriate conduct during filming, including allegations tied to a campaign that she said damaged her reputation and business interests.
She first filed complaints in 2024 alleging that Baldoni and executives tied to his production company, Wayfarer Studios, fostered a hostile and sexually inappropriate work environment during filming. Lively further alleged that Baldoni and members of the production engaged in efforts to damage her public image after concerns were raised internally.
The allegations quickly drew widespread attention across the entertainment industry and online, especially given the popularity of the film and the public profiles of those involved. Baldoni denied the accusations and later countersued Lively for $400 million, accusing her of defamation and claiming her allegations caused severe professional and financial harm. That lawsuit was eventually dismissed.
Baldoni also filed a separate defamation action against The New York Times over its reporting on Lively’s claims. That suit was ultimately dismissed, narrowing the scope of the legal conflict considerably before the parties ultimately reached their agreement this week.
A trial had been scheduled to begin May 18 and was expected to stretch across six to eight weeks. In a pre-trial ruling last month, a judge dismissed 10 of Lively’s 13 claims, including allegations tied to sexual harassment, leaving retaliation and breach-of-contract issues as the primary focus moving forward.
The remaining claims centered heavily on damages. Attorneys for Lively argued that the fallout from the controversy surrounding the film caused substantial professional losses, estimating damages ranging between $39 million and $143 million. Deposition transcripts and expert witness disclosures show Lively’s team planned to present evidence on the alleged impact to her career, including brand partnerships and business ventures. Materials filed with the court also reference projected losses tied to her consumer brand and shifts in public sentiment online during the film’s release period.
Baldoni’s legal team challenged those figures, arguing that Lively’s recent film output and earnings history did not support such estimates. Court filings from Baldoni’s side reportedly claimed the actress had earned approximately $21 million from four films released over the previous eight years. The actor-director denied that any coordinated effort to harm her reputation took place.
Lively is still asking the court to award attorneys’ fees and damages tied to Baldoni’s dismissed defamation lawsuit. Her legal team argues the case should trigger financial penalties under a California law designed to protect individuals who report sexual misconduct from retaliatory defamation suits.
That law allows courts, in certain cases, to require the party who brought the dismissed claims to cover legal costs, particularly when a lawsuit is found to target someone for speaking out. Baldoni’s attorneys have argued the California statute should not apply to a case litigated in New York and New Jersey and have opposed any award of fees or damages.
In a joint statement, both actors said they hope the resolution allows those involved to move forward and emphasized a shared commitment to maintaining respectful working environments.
No financial payment was included in the settlement, and further details have not yet been disclosed.
