A federal judge has rejected actress Blake Lively’s sexual harassment allegations in her legal action against actor and director Justin Baldoni, significantly narrowing her lawsuit concerning their 2024 romantic film “It Ends With Us.”
U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman’s lengthy decision on Thursday concluded more than a year of contentious legal battles over the movie, where Lively and Baldoni shared the screen and Baldoni directed. Lively’s attorney Esra Hudson claimed during a court session in January that Baldoni had overstepped boundaries by adding unnecessary sexual content, such as a dance scene where he “nuzzled” Lively without consent and a birth scene where she was pressured to wear minimal clothing and simulate nudity.
Judge Liman stated that Baldoni’s actions seemed to be aimed at Lively’s character in the scenes rather than at Lively herself. He emphasized the importance of creative freedom for artists to experiment within the framework of an agreed-upon script without the fear of being accused of sexual harassment.
Liman acknowledged that Lively could still argue before a jury that Baldoni’s production company, Wayfarer Studios, retaliated against her after she raised concerns about misconduct on the movie set. The judge noted that the defendants’ actions potentially impacted Lively’s career trajectory through a post-complaint smear campaign involving public relations and crisis management professionals hired by Baldoni.
The case is set for trial on May 18. Lively’s legal team expressed her readiness to testify and demonstrate the efforts undertaken to tarnish her reputation due to her stance on set safety issues. Baldoni’s lawyers welcomed the dismissal of the sexual harassment claims and affirmed their readiness to present their defense in the remaining aspects of the case, which include allegations of retaliation and breach of contract against Wayfarer Studios and related entities.
The legal battle between Lively and Baldoni has attracted significant attention in Hollywood, with involvement from notable figures like Taylor Swift, Gigi Hadid, and Hugh Jackman, who Lively claims might support her assertions. The lawsuit, initiated by Lively in 2024, seeks damages for alleged harassment, defamation, invasion of privacy, and violations of civil rights laws.
While the sexual harassment claims were dismissed, the judge acknowledged the underlying issues of discomfort and potential sincerity in Lively’s beliefs but outlined legal limitations due to her contractual status and jurisdictional factors. The public dispute emerged in 2024 when Lively lodged a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department against Baldoni, followed by the lawsuit. Baldoni’s counter-defamation lawsuit against Lively and Ryan Reynolds was also addressed by the court.
The movie “It Ends With Us,” featuring Lively as a flower shop owner who marries a neurosurgeon portrayed by Baldoni, explores themes of abuse and failed relationships. Despite mixed reviews, the film achieved commercial success, grossing over $351 million globally according to Box Office Mojo.