In a significant development in the legal battle between actors Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, a federal judge has dismissed most of the claims in Lively’s lawsuit against Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios. The case, which began in December 2024, involves allegations of sexual harassment, retaliation, and a smear campaign during the production of the film “It Ends With Us” [1][2].
Judge Lewis J. Liman, presiding over the case in the U.S. District Court in Manhattan, ruled in early April 2026 to dismiss 10 of the 13 claims brought by Lively, including those of sexual harassment and defamation. The remaining claims, which will proceed to trial, involve allegations of retaliation, aiding and abetting retaliation, and breach of contract against Wayfarer Studios [2][3].
Justin Baldoni had previously responded to Lively’s lawsuit by filing a countersuit in January 2025, seeking approximately $400 million in damages for defamation and extortion against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and her publicist. However, Judge Liman dismissed Baldoni’s countersuit in June 2025, ruling that Lively’s allegations were protected speech and that the reporting by the New York Times was covered under the fair report privilege [1][4].
The trial for the remaining claims in Lively’s lawsuit is scheduled to begin on May 18, 2026 [3]. Lively had earlier withdrawn two claims of intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress in June 2025 [5].
What Is Known
The legal proceedings have seen multiple claims dismissed by the court. The remaining claims focus on retaliation and breach of contract against Wayfarer Studios, not Baldoni personally. The trial is set to address these issues in May 2026 [2][3].
What Remains Unclear
Details of the alleged incidents and the specific nature of the retaliation claims have not been fully disclosed. Additionally, the outcome of the upcoming trial and its potential impact on the parties involved remain uncertain [3].
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