A Manhattan federal judge has dismissed the sexual harassment allegations that actress Blake Lively filed against her “It Ends With Us” co-star Justin Baldoni, though two retaliation claims from her lawsuit will proceed.
Judge Lewis J. Liman issued the written decision on Thursday, addressing the lawsuit Lively filed in December that included sexual harassment among more than a dozen accusations against Baldoni.
The legal battle became more complicated when Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios filed their own lawsuit against Lively and her spouse, Ryan Reynolds of “Deadpool” fame, claiming defamation and extortion. However, the judge threw out Baldoni’s counter-claims last June.
The romantic drama “It Ends With Us,” based on Colleen Hoover’s popular 2016 novel that explores themes of domestic violence, hit theaters in August 2024 and performed better than anticipated at the box office, earning $50 million in its opening weekend. Despite its commercial success, the film’s premiere was overshadowed by rumors of tension between the two lead actors.
Lively gained recognition through her role in 2005’s “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” and became widely known for portraying Serena van der Woodsen on “Gossip Girl” from 2007 to 2012. She has since appeared in major films such as “The Town” and “The Shallows.”
Baldoni became well-known for his performance in the television series “Jane the Virgin,” later transitioning to directing with 2019’s “Five Feet Apart.” He also authored “Man Enough,” which examines and questions conventional masculine stereotypes.
