Federal Judge Strikes Most of Blake Lively's Claims Against Justin Baldoni in 'It Ends With Us' Lawsuit

A federal judge has significantly reduced the scope of Blake Lively's high-profile lawsuit against Justin Baldoni and his production partners, dismissing her sexual harassment and defamation claims while allowing key retaliation charges to proceed to trial. The development comes just six weeks before the case is scheduled to begin in Manhattan federal court.

U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman issued a comprehensive 152-page ruling Thursday, striking down 10 of Lively's 13 causes of action related to the production of the domestic violence drama It Ends With Us. The remaining claims include retaliation and breach of contract allegations against the film's producers, as well as an aiding and abetting retaliation claim against The Agency Group PR. The trial is set to commence on May 18.

Lively's original lawsuit, filed December 31, 2024, alleged that Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios, and other defendants engaged in "disturbing" sexual harassment during production, followed by what she characterized as a "sophisticated, coordinated, and well-financed" digital smear campaign designed to discredit her after she raised concerns about workplace conduct.

Court Rejects Sexual Harassment Allegations

In Thursday's ruling, Judge Liman specifically addressed Lively's allegations regarding Baldoni's conduct during the filming of an intimate slow-dance scene. According to the complaint, Baldoni allegedly improvised by "slowly dragging his lips from her ear down her neck" while whispering, "it smells so good."

The judge acknowledged that such behavior might constitute sexual harassment in traditional workplace settings, stating: "There is no question that this conduct might support a hostile work environment claim if it occurred on the factory floor or in the executive suite." However, he emphasized the importance of evaluating the conduct within its specific professional context.

"He was acting in the scene. Assuming he was improvising, the conduct was not so far beyond what might reasonably be expected to take place between two characters during a slow dancing scene," Judge Liman wrote. The ruling emphasized that the conduct was "directed to Lively's character rather than to Lively herself," and noted 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."

Retaliation Claims Advance to Trial

While dismissing the harassment allegations, the court found merit in Lively's retaliation claims, determining that "certain conduct at least arguably crossed the line." Judge Liman acknowledged that Baldoni and his associates had legitimate grounds to engage public relations and crisis management professionals to protect their reputations following the allegations.

However, the judge established clear boundaries for such defensive measures: "There are limits to the response that the accused can make in response to claims of harassment. There comes a point where the accused stops simply defending him or herself and starts taking action that a reasonable jury could view as retaliation for the fact that the accuser had the temerity to make the accusations."

Legal Team Responds to Ruling

Sigrid McCawley, representing Lively, issued a statement Thursday clarifying the court's rationale for dismissing the harassment claims. She explained that the sexual harassment allegations were set aside not due to lack of merit, but because Lively was classified as an independent contractor rather than an employee under relevant employment law statutes.

"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," McCawley stated.

The attorney emphasized that Lively views exposing the alleged retaliation tactics as the primary measure of justice in the case. "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," McCawley noted.

Case Background

The legal dispute between Lively and Baldoni first gained public attention in late 2024 following a December 21 New York Times investigation titled "'We Can Bury Anyone': Inside a Hollywood Smear Machine." The article revealed that Lively had initially filed a precursor complaint against Baldoni with the California Civil Rights Department before pursuing federal litigation.

As the case proceeds to trial, it will focus specifically on the alleged retaliation campaign rather than the on-set harassment claims that initially dominated headlines when the lawsuit was filed.