Blake Lively is set to receive a little over $400,000 out of the $8 million she initially demanded in legal fees from actor and director Justin Baldoni after they settled their dispute over their 2024 movie, “It Ends With Us”, as per a federal judge’s ruling on Wednesday.
Judge Lewis J. Liman, in a written decision in Manhattan, detailed why Lively was not granted the full sum requested by her legal team following Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios LLC, lodging their own claims in response to Lively’s lawsuit in December 2024.
Acknowledging the intense legal battle between Lively and Baldoni, the judge reduced the majority of the legal fees sought by Lively, citing the confines of a California law intended to safeguard survivors of sexual harassment and discrimination from retaliatory legal actions.
The judge clarified that the law was only applicable to reimburse Lively for expenses incurred in defending against defamation claims rather than all claims made by Baldoni, resulting in Lively being awarded $363,245 in attorneys’ fees and $44,206 in costs.
Requests for comments from Baldoni and Lively’s representatives are pending.
In her legal action, Lively claimed she had experienced sexual harassment, retaliation, breach of contract, emotional distress, and invasion of privacy. Baldoni, who directed the film and starred alongside Lively, denied the allegations of harassment and smear campaigns, contending that Lively fabricated complaints to assert control over the movie.
Following Lively’s lawsuit, Baldoni and Wayfarer filed a countersuit against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, alleging civil extortion, defamation, invasion of privacy, breach of good faith, and economic interference. However, Liman dismissed this countersuit in June 2025 and later rejected Lively’s sexual harassment claims, stating she was an independent contractor, not an employee during the film’s production.
In early May, prior to a scheduled trial, Lively and Baldoni reached a settlement, emphasizing the importance of addressing Lively’s concerns and committing to fostering harassment-free work environments.
“It Ends With Us,” a film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s novel focusing on a deteriorating relationship, surpassed box office projections upon its 2024 release despite criticism for potentially glorifying abuse. The public rift between Lively and Baldoni overshadowed the film’s success and message.
Lively alleged that Baldoni made inappropriate remarks about her appearance, breached physical boundaries during filming, and pushed for nudity against her wishes during a birthing scene.
Baldoni maintained that his actions were within the bounds of the typical filmmaking process.
Lively’s acting credits include “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” (2005) and “Gossip Girl” (2007-2012), while Baldoni is known for “Jane the Virgin,” directing “Five Feet Apart” (2019), and writing “Man Enough,” which challenges conventional masculinity ideals.