A Manhattan federal judge has thrown out the bulk of actress Blake Lively’s sexual harassment allegations against Justin Baldoni, her co-star and director from the 2024 film “It Ends With Us.”
U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman issued the ruling on Thursday, concluding more than a year of bitter legal battles surrounding the romantic drama production.
Judge Liman struck down Lively’s sexual harassment allegations against Baldoni and other parties, determining the court lacked jurisdiction since she had filed under California legislation while the alleged misconduct occurred in different locations.
However, the judge allowed certain claims to move forward, including a retaliation allegation against Baldoni’s Wayfarer Studios production company, along with contract disputes and aiding and abetting charges against multiple parties.
Representatives for both Lively and Baldoni have not yet responded to requests for statements regarding the decision.
The high-profile case has captured Hollywood’s attention, potentially involving celebrities such as Taylor Swift, Gigi Hadid, and Hugh Jackman, who Lively claims may possess information relevant to her allegations.
Judge Liman had previously scheduled a May 18 trial date, contingent on his determination about which portions of Lively’s case could proceed.
The 38-year-old actress initiated legal action against Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios, and additional defendants in December 2024, demanding unspecified monetary damages for alleged harassment, defamation, privacy violations, and civil rights infractions under federal and state regulations.
Lively alleged that the defendants fostered a sexually inappropriate work environment during filming, then conspired to prevent her and others from exposing the toxic conditions they established.
The 42-year-old Baldoni maintained that he addressed Lively’s complaints immediately upon receiving them and was justified in engaging crisis management professionals after Lively began making public criticisms against him.
The controversy emerged publicly in December 2024 when Lively submitted a formal complaint to the California Civil Rights Department before filing her lawsuit. The New York Times subsequently published a related piece titled “‘We Can Bury Anyone’: Inside a Hollywood Smear Machine.”
Baldoni filed counter-defamation suits against Lively and her spouse, actor Ryan Reynolds, claiming they attempted to ruin his professional standing. However, Judge Liman dismissed that case last June, along with Baldoni’s defamation action against the Times.
“It Ends With Us” featured Lively as a florist who wed a neurosurgeon portrayed by Baldoni. The storyline follows the marriage’s deterioration as Baldoni’s character turns abusive, echoing patterns from Lively’s character’s family history, ultimately leading to separation when she reunites with her former romantic partner who became a chef and restaurant proprietor.
Despite receiving lukewarm critical reception, the film earned over $351 million in global box office revenue, according to Box Office Mojo data.
