Blake Lively’s Harassment Claims Against Justin Baldoni Dismissed

NEW YORK (AP) — A federal judge has dismissed Blake Lively’s sexual harassment claims against Justin Baldoni regarding the film “It Ends With Us.” However, three claims, including one for retaliation, remain intact, allowing a jury to hear several allegations.

Judge Lewis J. Liman’s decision, delivered in Manhattan, follows Lively’s lawsuit filed in December 2024, in which she starred and produced the movie. A trial is scheduled for May 18.

In response, Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios, countersued Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, over defamation and extortion accusations. However, the judge dismissed Baldoni’s countersuit last June.

The judge ruled that Lively functioned as an independent contractor rather than an employee, thus disqualifying her from filing harassment claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits workplace discrimination on various grounds, including gender.

On the topic of retaliation, Judge Liman suggested there was sufficient evidence for a jury to infer that Baldoni’s company intended to damage Lively’s reputation and career out of concern for a potential discrimination claim. Lively’s allegations of a smear campaign have reportedly had a “devastating” effect on her career.

While determining the claims, Judge Liman noted that Lively’s accusations must be contextualized within the film production. He discussed incidents during filming, including Baldoni’s gestures perceived as inappropriate. He defined the conduct as troubling but not extending beyond what might be expected between actors during rehearsed scenes.

Despite dismissing certain claims, the judge indicated that some aspects of sexual harassment could still be examined by a jury. Lively’s attorney expressed a commitment to addressing what she termed online retaliation, indicating this case would focus on the substantial reputational harm Lively faced for advocating safety on set.