Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni will proceed to trial over Lively’s retaliation and defamation claims after last-minute settlement talks collapsed.
Magistrate Judge Sarah L. Cave held separate calls with each party on Monday to explore any possible resolution, but both sides rejected a deal.
The development comes days after Judge Lewis Liman dismissed 10 of Lively’s 13 claims against Baldoni, his Wayfarer Studios executives, and PR team on jurisdictional and contractual grounds.
Lively’s remaining allegations focus on a preemptive online smear campaign she says was orchestrated by Baldoni’s PR team ahead of the premiere of ‘It Ends With Us’.
Earlier on April 6, Lively urged fans not to be “distracted by the digital soap opera,” affirming her commitment to exposing systems and individuals she says seek to harm and silence victims.
Attempts to settle the dispute date back to late 2024, including a face-to-face courtroom meeting in Manhattan. As in previous efforts, talks were unsuccessful, leaving the trial set for May 18.
