Justin Baldoni and his legal team expressed being very pleased after a federal judge dismissed the majority of Blake Lively’s claims against him, marking a major win in the ongoing legal battle over the 2024 film 'It Ends With Us.'
On Thursday, Judge Lewis J. Liman threw out 10 of the 13 claims Lively had made, including all allegations of sexual harassment related to the filming of the movie.
© GC ImagesBryan Freedman, Baldoni’s lead attorney, celebrated the ruling. “The truth has prevailed. It is gratifying to see that the court’s ruling confirms what the legal team believed from day one.”
Freedman told TMZ, “The defendants were not afraid of the truth. The plan was not only to speak the truth but to also show that same truth over and over again through the presentation of actual evidence. Neither Justin Baldoni, [It Ends With Us lead producer] Jamey Heath nor any of the other defendants have engaged in the sexual harassment of Blake Lively.”
© The Grosby GroupSupporting attorneys Alexandra Shapiro and Jonathan Bach also commented. “We’re very pleased the Court dismissed all sexual harassment claims and every claim brought against the individual defendants: Justin Baldoni, Jamey Heath, Steve Sarowitz, Melissa Nathan, and Jennifer Abel. These were very serious allegations, and we are grateful to the Court for its careful review of the facts, law and voluminous evidence that was provided. What’s left is a significantly narrowed case, and we look forward to presenting our defense to the remaining claims in court.”
© The Grosby GroupThe legal case continues:
While the sexual harassment claims were dismissed, the case is not over. Lively’s remaining claims, breach of contract, retaliation, and aiding and abetting retaliation, will proceed to a jury trial scheduled for May 18, 2026, in New York City.
© GC ImagesJudge Liman’s 152-page opinion emphasized the context of the film, noting that “creative artists, no less than comedy room writers, must have some amount of space to experiment within the bounds of an agreed script without fear of being held liable for sexual harassment.” He also noted that Lively was working as an independent contractor rather than an employee.
Lively’s perspective:
Lively’s attorney, Sigrid McCawley, stated, “This case has always been and will remain focused on the devastating retaliation and the extraordinary steps the defendants took to destroy Blake Lively’s reputation because she stood up for safety on the set and that is the case that is going to trial. For Blake Lively, the greatest measure of justice is that the people and the playbook behind these coordinated digital attacks have been exposed and are already being held accountable by other women they've targeted. She looks forward to testifying at trial and continuing to shine a light on this vicious form of online retaliation so that it becomes easier to detect and fight.”
© Jose Perez/Bauer-GriffinThe dispute arose after the release of 'It Ends With Us' in August 2024. Lively accused Baldoni of kissing her off-script during a scene, entering her room while she was breastfeeding, and showing her a video of his wife giving birth, as well as orchestrating a smear campaign against her.
Despite the legal conflict, Baldoni’s team emphasized that the defendants “are very good people” who had acted properly throughout the production. The trial next month will focus on the remaining claims, with the case closely watched for its implications on workplace conduct and reputational harm in Hollywood.
