A U.S. federal court has dismissed sexual harassment claims brought by Blake Lively against actor-director Justin Baldoni, significantly narrowing a high-profile legal dispute tied to their 2024 film It Ends With Us.
U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman issued the 152-page ruling on Thursday, following more than a year of contentious litigation stemming from the film’s production, in which both Lively and Baldoni starred, with Baldoni also serving as director.
The lawsuit had alleged that Baldoni engaged in inappropriate conduct during filming by deviating from the script to include sexually suggestive elements. During a January hearing, Lively’s lawyer Esra Hudson argued that such actions included a dance scene in which Baldoni allegedly “nuzzled” Lively without consent, and a childbirth sequence where she was pressured to simulate nudity with minimal clothing.
However, Judge Liman ruled that the alleged conduct appeared to be directed at Lively’s character within the narrative context, rather than at Lively personally. He emphasised that creative professionals must retain a degree of latitude in interpreting scripts, noting that artistic experimentation should not automatically expose individuals to liability.
Despite dismissing the sexual harassment claims, the court allowed parts of Lively’s lawsuit to proceed. Notably, she may still pursue allegations that Baldoni’s production company, Wayfarer Studios, retaliated against her after she raised concerns about on-set behaviour.
The judge stated that a jury could consider whether the defendants engaged in actions that materially harmed Lively’s career, including what she described as a coordinated smear campaign involving public relations and crisis management professionals. Liman acknowledged that “certain conduct at least arguably crossed the line,” leaving room for further examination during trial proceedings.
The case is currently scheduled to go to trial on May 18, where the focus will shift to retaliation and related claims rather than sexual harassment.
Lively, 38, initially filed the lawsuit in December 2024, accusing Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios, and others of harassment, defamation, invasion of privacy, and violations of civil rights laws. She alleged that the production fostered a sexually charged environment and later sought to silence complaints.
Baldoni, 42, has denied wrongdoing, maintaining that he addressed Lively’s concerns promptly and was justified in hiring crisis management support after she publicly criticised him. His legal team welcomed the court’s decision, describing the remaining case as “significantly narrowed.”
The dispute has drawn widespread attention in Hollywood, with figures such as Taylor Swift, Gigi Hadid, and Hugh Jackman reportedly possessing information relevant to the claims.
Separately, Baldoni had filed a defamation lawsuit against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, which was dismissed earlier. A related defamation case against The New York Times was also thrown out.
“It Ends With Us,” adapted from a bestselling novel, achieved commercial success despite mixed reviews, earning over $351 million globally.
