Okay, so I’ve been following this whole thing with Blake and Justin so closely, and it’s just… intense. Apparently, Blake hit a really big snag in her lawsuit against him today. Justin finally addressed it, and honestly, I’m on the edge of my seat to see what happens next. I’ve been checking for updates constantly!
At 39 years old, Lively experienced a setback when Judge Lewis Liman dismissed the sexual harassment and fat-shaming claims in her lawsuit.
Judge Liman dismissed 10 of the 13 claims in Lively’s lawsuit, but allowed the case to continue with claims of retaliation, assisting in retaliation, and breaking the contract.
Following their win in court, Alexandra Shapiro and Jonathan Bach, lawyers for Baldoni, released a statement to the Daily Mail.
Shapiro and Bach announced they were pleased that the court rejected all claims of sexual harassment and dismissed the case against Justin Baldoni, Jamey Heath, Steve Sarowitz, Melissa Nathan, and Jennifer Abel.
These were significant claims, and we appreciate the Court thoroughly examining the facts, legal arguments, and extensive evidence presented.
The company stated that Lively’s lawsuit has been substantially reduced in scope, and they are prepared to defend themselves against the remaining issues in court.
Baldoni’s lawyers responded after Lively’s legal team made a statement to the Daily Mail.
According to Blake Lively’s lawyer, Sigrid McCawley, the lawsuit centers on the severe consequences Lively faced after advocating for on-set safety, and the extreme measures the defendants took to harm her reputation. McCawley stated this is the core issue that will be presented at trial, as reported by the Daily Mail.
Blake Lively believes the most satisfying outcome is that those responsible for the online attacks have been revealed and are now facing consequences from the women they previously harmed.
She’s eager to share her experiences in court and help others recognize and combat this harmful type of online harassment, making it simpler to identify and stop.
The court didn’t rule in favor of the defendants because they were innocent of wrongdoing, but rather because Blake Lively was considered a contractor and not a direct employee. This distinction impacted the legal claim regarding sexual harassment.
The trial is still set to begin on May 18th in New York City, but Lively’s legal position has significantly weakened.
Lively accused Baldoni of unprofessional behavior on the set of It Ends With Us, specifically claiming he kissed her in a scene that wasn’t written in the script.
She claimed Baldoni came into her trailer while she was nursing her baby, and also stated a producer showed her a video of his wife’s delivery.
Judge Liman ruled against Lively, stating that the contracts she presented as evidence weren’t legally valid because she hadn’t signed them.
I was really disappointed to learn that Shelley Lively never actually signed the Actor Loanout Agreement, or ALA. It’s the document that would have established clear guidelines for handling sexual harassment on set. Apparently, she and Justin Baldoni’s team spent months arguing over the details, and she ultimately didn’t sign it, which is just incredibly frustrating to me as a supporter of safe working conditions.
The judge, in a 152-page decision, stated that the agreement between the parties (ALA) was never a legally valid contract. This is because It Ends With Us Movie (IEWUM) made it clear they didn’t intend to be bound by the terms unless a final, signed document was completed.
The judge didn’t agree with Lively’s argument that she had grounds to sue, pointing out there was no proof they hadn’t agreed on the rest of the harassment policy. Judge Liman explained that focusing on such a small detail was an overreach.
Whether Lively had the sole right to stop filming if she believed sexual harassment happened is a significant issue. The parties’ failure to agree on this point strongly suggests they hadn’t finalized a contract yet.
Judge Liman didn’t accept Lively’s argument that she had the right to sue based on conversations Baldoni had about the ALA.
The court rejected Lively’s argument, finding that the evidence, whether examined individually or collectively, wasn’t enough to create a legitimate dispute about how the ALA was formed.
Judge Liman directly stated that Ms. Lively didn’t address the main issue with her argument.
She argues the ALA agreement became active for both sides while they were still discussing its terms, but she can’t say exactly when that happened or which specific version of the agreement applied. She points out that for the agreement to be valid, both sides must be bound by it – if one isn’t, neither is.
Do we know which copy of the ALA’s ‘Lively’ book was bound? Specifically, was it the one that didn’t include the section about sexual harassment?
Judge Liman rejected another of Lively’s claims, stating she misinterpreted the situation. He explained that just because Baldoni paid her doesn’t give her the right to sue under the ALA.
The judge felt Lively’s claims based on a separate agreement, called the Contract Rider Agreement (or CRA), were stronger, particularly because it specifically prohibits punishing anyone who speaks up about problems on set.
In January 2024, film producer Jamey Heath signed a contract with Blake Lively outlining 17 conditions that must be met for her to resume filming.
Baldoni has claimed that he felt they had little choice in order for the film to be completed.
Among the provisions was that there would be no improvised sex scenes of any kind.
As a lifestyle expert, I always advise people to speak up if something feels wrong, and it’s incredibly important to feel safe doing so. In this case, Judge Liman specifically highlighted a clause guaranteeing that the artist wouldn’t face any negative consequences – absolutely no retaliation – for bringing up concerns about the issues detailed in the letter. It’s a crucial point – protecting those who come forward is paramount.
The judge determined that Lively’s extensive control over the film ultimately invalidated her claims.
To move forward with a claim under the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and California law, Lively needed to be considered an employee of It Ends With Us.
However, Judge Liman determined that the established facts showed Lively was financially independent enough to be considered a contractor, and therefore, those specific employment laws didn’t apply to her.
He listed all of Lively’s requirements for her work, which included limiting workdays to 12 hours, having final say over most of the music, complete creative control over the film’s shots, the chance to get audience feedback during test screenings, and the right to select the final cut of each scene.
Judge Liman explained that while no single piece of evidence definitively proves Lively’s claim, considering all the evidence together leaves no room for legitimate disagreement. Therefore, Lively’s case cannot proceed.
The judge determined that Lively didn’t just have a lot of say in how she appeared in the movie through her contract, she actually used that power to influence things.
As a huge fan, I’ve always known she was incredibly involved, and Judge Liman’s statement really confirms it! She wasn’t just the star; she actively participated in everything from bringing the crew together and managing the production, to influencing the story itself. She even had a hand in how the film looked, how it was marketed, and ultimately, how it was released. It’s amazing to see just how much creative control she had and how dedicated she was to the project.
She appreciated being financially free enough to leave whenever she wanted, even if it meant risking a violation of her agreement.
She confidently negotiated her return to work, securing terms she was happy with. Additionally, she received a share of the film’s profits.
Regarding the claims of retaliation, the judge explained that a jury could conclude she spoke out against behavior she genuinely thought was sexual harassment.
Honestly, it totally blew my mind when the judge mentioned Baldoni’s team said she was using those accusations to basically control the whole movie! Like, wielding them as a weapon to get what she wanted. It’s just…wow. It makes you see everything in a different light, you know? It’s not just about artistic differences, it’s about power! I’ve been replaying that part of the testimony in my head all day.
The judge explained that a jury could reasonably believe Lively was both subjected to discrimination on set and genuinely felt the events were discriminatory. These two ideas aren’t contradictory; they can both be true.
There’s enough evidence to suggest a jury could reasonably find that Lively genuinely felt the events on set were sexually harassing.
Even when considering the facts in a way that benefits the defendant, there’s enough proof to suggest Lively reasonably believed the Wayfarer Parties created a hostile work environment through sexual harassment.
The judge stated that the incidents Lively mentioned weren’t strong enough to prove a hostile work environment, or, at best, would only suggest a minimal or situational issue.
But others ‘come closer’ to stating a claim.
The judge didn’t believe Baldoni sharing information about his circumcision with Lively was discriminatory, as it happened during a conversation about the topic. Because of this, the judge stated it wouldn’t have created an uncomfortable or hostile work environment.
Judge Liman didn’t believe that Baldoni’s suggestion of adding more sexual content to the film was a form of discrimination.
The judge stated it wouldn’t be unexpected or unjustified if both Baldoni and Lively had written sexually explicit content, even if they didn’t always agree with each other’s work.
The judge dismissed Lively’s claims of being fat-shamed, stating they weren’t strong enough to form a legal case. This was a significant setback for her.
The claim involved Baldoni asking Lively’s trainer about her expected weight at the start of filming, and this question was later relayed to Lively herself.
At a different time, Baldoni connected Lively with a probiotic expert who also focused on weight management. Judge Liman stated that the actions couldn’t be seen as showing animosity towards Lively as a woman, or towards women generally.
The way the main characters looked was carefully considered as part of the overall presentation for viewers. Lively acknowledged that creating a specific visual style was an important and agreed-upon aspect of their work.
She requested that intimate scenes be filmed last in the shooting schedule, giving her enough time to get in shape. In a private message to her agent, she revealed she was exercising for four hours each day, twice a day, to lose weight, believing that the film’s sex appeal – and its marketing – were essential for its success.
You know, I often talk about approaching life’s challenges with the right mindset, and I recently heard a fantastic analogy. An actress shared with me that she and her husband view acting roles – and honestly, life itself – like athletic competitions. She said this particular role felt like one of those, and she found that incredibly empowering. It’s a wonderful way to frame things – seeing challenges not as daunting tasks, but as opportunities to push yourself and perform!
Even if Baldoni’s actions seemed to encourage Lively to lose weight—though this isn’t clearly proven—they can’t be considered discrimination based on her gender.
The judge rejected Lively’s claim that Baldoni sexually harassed her during a dance scene, specifically her assertion that he unexpectedly added kisses not written in the script.
The Daily Mail first released the unedited video from the location in a story they published shortly after the legal case began.
The judge explained that the actor’s behavior during the scene seemed like natural acting, potentially even improvisation. Because of this, it wasn’t extreme enough to suggest he was treating the other person badly because of their gender.
As a lifestyle expert, I’ve always believed in fostering environments where creativity can flourish. In this specific situation, the comments seemed aimed at critiquing the character being portrayed, not at the actress personally. It’s crucial to remember that artists – whether they’re actors, writers, or anyone else – need the freedom to explore their craft within the established framework of a project without worrying about false accusations of harassment. That space for experimentation is essential for good work.
The recent updates in this case follow over a year of legal conflict between Lively and Baldoni.
In December 2024, Lively filed a lawsuit against Baldoni, alleging sexual harassment, unfair retaliation, and causing intentional emotional distress.
The actress filed a lawsuit claiming that Baldoni sexually harassed her, made demeaning comments about her body, and tried to ruin her career by spreading false information about her.
In her legal complaint, Lively identified several people who worked with Baldoni, such as his production company Wayfarer Studios, its CEO and primary investor, and the team handling publicity.
Baldoni first sought $250 million from The New York Times, alleging a published report damaged his reputation. He later combined this claim with a $400 million lawsuit he’d already filed in January.
The lawsuit, which referenced a previously published report, named Blake Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and her publicist Leslie Sloane. However, the case was dismissed in June, and all involved parties have denied any wrongdoing.
Recently, Lively’s lawyers argued that Baldoni and his team went too far by asking inappropriate and irrelevant questions about her personal life during questioning related to the lawsuit.
Blake Lively’s personal relationships are irrelevant to this case, and her lawyers have warned the court they will seek a protective order and potential penalties if any further attempts are made to discuss them, according to Page Six.
Lively’s lawyers argued that Baldoni’s legal team acted unprofessionally during questioning, engaging in disrespectful behavior like making insulting remarks, interrupting, and laughing inappropriately.
While ‘It Ends With Us’ was a box office success, earning $148 million domestically and $350 million worldwide, recent allegations involving the film’s actors have drawn attention away from its positive reception.
Based on Colleen Hoover’s popular 2016 novel, It Ends With Us starred Blake Lively, Jenny Slate, Hasan Minhaj, Brandon Sklenar, and Kevin McKidd. The story focuses on the damaging relationship between Lily Bloom (Lively) and Ryle Kincaid (Baldoni), which eventually becomes abusive.
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