Blake Lively’s legal battle against her It Ends With Us co-star Justin Baldoni has taken a major turn, after a federal judge dismissed her harassment claims in a sweeping ruling that significantly weakens her case ahead of trial.
The decision, issued by Judge Lewis Liman, removes the central accusations that fueled more than a year of public fallout between the two actors, leaving only a limited set of claims to move forward.
10 out of 13 of Blake Lively’s claims against Justin Baldoni were thrown out in a devastating development for the actress
Image credits: Getty/Jeff Spicer
In a ruling spanning more than 150 pages, Judge Liman threw out 10 of Lively’s 13 claims, including her allegations of intimate harassment, defamation, and conspiracy.
The judge allowed only three claims to proceed to trial: breach of contract, retaliation, and aiding and abetting retaliation.
The core of the decision rested on legal technicalities that undercut Lively’s ability to bring harassment claims in the first place.
Image credits: Getty/James Devaney
Liman ruled that Lively could not pursue a federal harassment claim because she was working as an independent contractor, not an employee. He also found she could not bring a claim under California law because the movie was filmed in New Jersey.
At the center of her argument was the Actor Loanout Agreement, or ALA, which she claimed governed on-set conduct. But the judge rejected that outright.
“It is clear that the ALA is not and has never been a validly formed and binding contract,” Liman wrote, noting that the agreement was never fully executed or signed.
Image credits: Getty/Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin
He went further, dismantling the foundation of her claim.
“Unless both parties are bound, neither party is bound,” the judge stated, questioning which version of the agreement Lively believed applied.
“The fact that the parties were not able to come to terms on such provision provides powerful evidence that no contract had yet been formed.”
Lively’s allegations of a smear campaign remain in play through her retaliation claims
Image credits: Getty/Roy Rochlin
Lively’s lawsuit, filed in December 2024, accused Baldoni of making inappropriate comments about her appearance and weight during filming, as well as orchestrating a campaign to damage her reputation.
She alleged that Baldoni hired publicists to seed and amplify negative stories about her online, framing it as retaliation.
While most of those claims were dismissed, the judge ruled that two retaliation-related allegations could proceed, pointing instead to a separate agreement, the Contract Rider Agreement (CRA), which was signed in January 2024.
Image credits: Getty/Dia Dipasupil
That document included specific provisions protecting Lively from retaliation if she raised concerns about on-set conduct.
Judge Liman cited language stating there should be “no retaliation of any kind against Artist for raising concerns,” concluding that this portion of her case “stand[s] on firmer ground.”
As a result, the case moving toward trial is far narrower than what Lively initially brought.
Neither Lively nor Baldoni immediately responded to requests for comment following the decision.
Baldoni and his legal team had long argued that Lively’s claims were exaggerated and strategically motivated
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They claimed she used allegations of misconduct to gain control over the film and recast him publicly as the antagonist.
According to his team, the complaints about his on-set behavior amounted to “minor grievances,” and he had the right to defend himself against what he viewed as false accusations.
The conflict also pulled in high-profile figures, including Taylor Swift, who was referenced in private messages tied to the case.
In one text exchange from fall 2024, Swift wrote about Baldoni, “I think this b**ch knows something is coming because he’s gotten out his tiny violin.”
Lively, in messages to Swift, referred to Baldoni as a “clown” and a “doofus director.”
It Ends With Us grossed $350 million worldwide, becoming one of the biggest hits of 2024
Image credits: imdb
The movie’s release was clouded by reports of a rift between its two leads, which quickly evolved into a prolonged legal battle.
Sony Pictures film chair Tom Rothman summed up the situation in an August 2024 email:
“It’s all a f**king disaster,” he wrote. “None of the who is right or wrong matters at all. The mess is the story now and will define the film. No one can watch the film in the same way. Tragic.”
Despite attempts to resolve the dispute, including a mediation session in February, the parties failed to reach a settlement.
The case is now scheduled to go to trial on May 18 in New York City, where the remaining claims will be tested before a jury.
“Tried to ruin his life.” Fans of each actor debated online following the result
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