The legal friction following the production of It Ends With Us has reached a critical juncture. A federal judge has narrowed the scope of the litigation, resulting in Blake Lively’s sexual harassment claims against Justin Baldoni dismissed alongside several other allegations of misconduct, shifting the focus of the upcoming trial toward contractual disputes and workplace retaliation.
Judge Lewis Liman ruled Thursday that 10 of the 13 claims filed by Lively against Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios, lacked the necessary legal standing to proceed. Among the dismissed charges were allegations of sexual harassment, defamation, and conspiracy. While the ruling strips the case of its most inflammatory labels, it does not end the dispute; the court allowed three specific claims—breach of contract, retaliation, and aiding and abetting in retaliation—to move forward.
The decision effectively re-centers the case on how Lively was treated after she reported her concerns, rather than the specific nature of the on-set behavior itself. A lawyer for Lively indicated that the actress remains undeterred by the narrowing of the suit, stating that she “looks forward to testifying at trial and continuing to shine a light on this vicious form of online retaliation so that it becomes easier to detect and fight.”
The remaining legal battle: What proceeds to trial
With the sexual harassment and conspiracy claims removed, the trial will now hinge on the aftermath of the production’s internal conflicts. Lively had alleged that Baldoni created a hostile operate environment, which included derogatory comments regarding her weight and body. These accusations first entered the public record in a December 2024 report by The New York Times.
The core of the remaining litigation focuses on Lively’s claim that Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios coordinated a “retaliatory smear campaign” against her online after she reported the misconduct. Baldoni has consistently denied these claims, maintaining that any social media backlash Lively faced was organic and not the result of a coordinated effort.
| Claim Category | Status | Legal Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Sexual Harassment | Dismissed | Struck down by Judge Lewis Liman |
| Defamation & Conspiracy | Dismissed | Struck down by Judge Lewis Liman |
| Retaliation | Proceeding | Focuses on “smear campaign” allegations |
| Breach of Contract | Proceeding | Focuses on production agreements |
A timeline of escalation and countersuits
The path to the courtroom has been marked by an aggressive series of legal maneuvers and public exchanges. Shortly after the initial allegations surfaced, Baldoni took a defensive stance, filing a defamation lawsuit against The New York Times. The conflict escalated further in January 2025, when Baldoni filed a $400 million countersuit against Lively and her husband, actor Ryan Reynolds, alleging defamation and extortion.
That countersuit, although, proved short-lived. A judge dismissed Baldoni’s $400 million claim in June 2025, removing Reynolds from the primary legal crosshairs but leaving the central conflict between the two leads of It Ends With Us intact. Despite a mediation meeting between the two parties last month, they were unable to reach a settlement, making a courtroom confrontation inevitable.
The ‘He Said, She Said’ and the Taylor Swift connection
The dispute has frequently spilled over into the public eye, drawing in high-profile figures through the discovery process. Baldoni attempted to subpoena Taylor Swift, a close friend of Lively, in an effort to uncover more about the internal dynamics of the production. While the subpoena attempt added to the media spectacle, it too led to the unsealing of text messages between Swift and Lively earlier this year.
These messages became part of the public record as part of Lively’s broader effort to prove that the hostility she experienced was systemic and that the subsequent online hate was a targeted response to her complaints. The resulting press cycle transformed the legal battle into a high-stakes narrative of celebrity loyalty and workplace toxicity.
The irony of a box-office hit
The legal turmoil stands in stark contrast to the commercial success of the film at the center of the storm. It Ends With Us, which explores the harrowing cycle of domestic violence, became a significant box-office hit. Its success has since paved the way for other adaptations of Colleen Hoover’s novels, including Regretting You and Reminders of Him.
For industry observers, the case highlights the growing tension between the curated image of a film’s promotional tour and the reality of its production. While the movie advocated for the empowerment of women escaping abuse, the behind-the-scenes reality featured two leads locked in a bitter legal struggle over harassment and retaliation.
Note: This article discusses ongoing legal proceedings. The information provided is for informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice.
The case is now set for a trial beginning on May 18, where the court will determine if the actions taken by Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios constituted illegal retaliation or a breach of contract. This date marks the next official checkpoint in a saga that has redefined the public perception of the film’s production.
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