A federal judge has rejected actress Blake Lively’s allegations of sexual harassment in her legal battle against actor and director Justin Baldoni, significantly narrowing her lawsuit concerning their 2024 romantic film “It Ends With Us.”
The decision by U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman on Thursday came after over a year of contentious legal proceedings involving the movie, in which Lively and Baldoni starred and which Baldoni helmed.
At a court session in January, Lively’s attorney Esra Hudson contended that Baldoni had repeatedly crossed boundaries, such as straying from the script by adding unnecessary sexual elements. Hudson claimed instances like a dance sequence where Baldoni allegedly “nuzzled” Lively without consent and a scene during childbirth where Lively was pressured into scanty clothing and simulating nudity.
Liman noted that the alleged actions by Baldoni seemed aimed at Lively’s character in the scene, rather than Lively herself. The judge emphasized the importance of creative freedom for artists to experiment within script confines without the threat of sexual harassment liability.
While the sexual harassment claims were dismissed, Liman ruled that Lively could still pursue her argument that Baldoni’s production company, Wayfarer Studios, retaliated against her following her complaints about misconduct on the film set.
The jury will also consider whether the defendants potentially impacted Lively’s career prospects through what she described as a smear campaign after Baldoni engaged public relations and crisis management experts.
The trial is set to commence on May 18, giving Lively the opportunity to testify and present evidence of actions taken to tarnish her reputation for advocating for a safe set environment.
Baldoni’s legal representatives expressed satisfaction with the dismissal of the sexual harassment claims and are prepared to defend against the remaining allegations of retaliation and breach of contract. The lawsuit involves Wayfarer Studios, the film development company, and The Agency Group PR, the crisis public relations firm hired by Wayfarer.
Lively’s lawsuit against Baldoni, Wayfarer, and others in 2024 has garnered significant attention in Hollywood and has attracted support from celebrities like Taylor Swift, Gigi Hadid, and Hugh Jackman, who may have relevant information for her claims.
The legal battle began when Lively reported Baldoni to the California Civil Rights Department and subsequently filed a lawsuit. Baldoni retaliated by suing Lively and her spouse, Ryan Reynolds, for defamation, alleging attempts to ruin his reputation, but those claims were dismissed by Liman in a previous ruling.
“It Ends With Us” featured Lively as a florist who weds a neurosurgeon portrayed by Baldoni. The film explores themes of abuse and failed relationships, ultimately grossing over $351 million globally, despite receiving mixed reviews.