Judge Dismisses Much of Blake Lively's Lawsuit Against Co-Star Justin Baldoni

Lively can still pursue claims of retaliation over alleged harm to her reputation, but sexual harassment claims were dismissed.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 6:23am

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An extreme close-up of shattered glass reflecting a faint red light, conceptually representing the legal tensions and high-stakes nature of the dispute between the two actors.The legal battle between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni over alleged misconduct on the set of 'It Ends With Us' has exposed the complex power dynamics and high stakes in the entertainment industry.NYC Today

A federal judge in New York has dismissed much of Blake Lively's lawsuit against her It Ends With Us co-star Justin Baldoni, including her claims of sexual harassment on set. The judge ruled that Baldoni's conduct 'was not so far beyond what might reasonably be expected' in the context of developing a sexually charged movie. However, Lively is still allowed to pursue certain claims of retaliation against Baldoni's PR team over alleged harm to her reputation.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing challenges actors face in navigating complex power dynamics and allegations of misconduct on film sets. The judge's ruling suggests a high bar for proving sexual harassment claims, even in the entertainment industry where such issues have come under increased scrutiny in recent years.

The details

In his ruling, Judge Lewis Liman said some of Baldoni's conduct 'was not so far beyond what might reasonably be expected to take place between two characters' in a sexually charged movie like It Ends With Us. The judge is allowing Lively to pursue her claims of an orchestrated smear campaign by Baldoni's PR team, which Liman said 'at least arguably crossed the line' and had 'particularly severe' reputational effects given Lively's profession.

  • On April 3, 2026, a federal judge in New York dismissed much of Blake Lively's lawsuit against Justin Baldoni.
  • The trial between Lively and Baldoni was scheduled to begin in May 2026, one month after the judge's ruling.

The players

Blake Lively

An American actress who filed a lawsuit against her It Ends With Us co-star Justin Baldoni, accusing him of sexual harassment on set and a coordinated PR campaign to damage her reputation.

Justin Baldoni

An American actor and filmmaker who was sued by Blake Lively. The judge dismissed most of Lively's claims against Baldoni, including the sexual harassment allegations.

Judge Lewis Liman

The federal judge in New York who ruled on the lawsuit between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, dismissing much of Lively's case.

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What they’re saying

“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.”

— Sigrid McCawley, Member of Blake Lively's legal team

“We're very pleased the Court dismissed all sexual harassment claims and every claim brought against the individual defendants: Justin Baldoni, Jamey Heath, Steve Sarowitz, Melissa Nathan, and Jennifer Abel.”

— Alexandra Shapiro and Jonathan Bach, Justin Baldoni's legal team

What’s next

The remaining claims in Lively's lawsuit against Baldoni will now proceed to trial, which is scheduled to begin in May 2026.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing challenges actors face in navigating allegations of misconduct on film sets, as well as the high bar for proving sexual harassment claims even in the entertainment industry where such issues have come under increased scrutiny.