A federal judge has dismissed Blake Lively’s sexual harassment claims in her lawsuit against actor and director Justin Baldoni, narrowing her case involving their 2024 romantic drama film “It Ends With Us.”
The decision by U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman, spanning 152 pages, came after over a year of contentious legal battles concerning the movie, where Lively and Baldoni both acted, with Baldoni directing.
At a court hearing in January, Lively’s attorney Esra Hudson contended that Baldoni had overstepped boundaries by adding unnecessary sexual content, deviating from the script. Hudson cited instances like a dance sequence where Baldoni “nuzzled” Lively without consent and a scene where Lively’s character was giving birth and felt pressured to wear minimal clothing and simulate nudity.
Judge Liman noted that Baldoni’s alleged actions seemed to be aimed at Lively’s character within the scene rather than at Lively herself. He emphasized that creative individuals, like comedy writers, should have room to experiment within script boundaries without the threat of sexual harassment claims.
Liman indicated that Lively could still argue that Baldoni’s production company, Wayfarer Studios, retaliated against her after she raised concerns about misconduct on set. The judge stated that jurors could assess whether the defendants negatively impacted Lively’s career prospects through a potential smear campaign following her complaints.
The trial is set for May 18, with Lively looking forward to testifying, according to her lawyer Sigrid McCawley, who highlighted Lively’s resolve to reveal the attempts made to tarnish her reputation for advocating set safety.
Baldoni’s legal team expressed satisfaction over the dismissal of the sexual harassment claims against Baldoni and other defendants, refuting any wrongdoing. Remaining claims in the case involve retaliation and breach of contract against Wayfarer Studios and the film development company, along with a claim against the crisis PR firm engaged by Wayfarer, The Agency Group PR.
Lively had sued Baldoni in 2024, seeking damages for alleged harassment, defamation, invasion of privacy, and civil rights law violations. The case, closely monitored in Hollywood, attracted attention from celebrities like Taylor Swift, Gigi Hadid, and Hugh Jackman, who Lively suggested might have information supporting her claims.
In summary, the legal battle between Lively and Baldoni has evolved into a narrowed case focusing on retaliation and breach of contract, heading towards a trial date in May. Despite the controversy, their collaborative film garnered over $351 million globally, despite mixed critical reception.