A federal judge in New York dismissed most of the claims in actress Blake Lively’s lawsuit against actor-director Justin Baldoni in April 2026, ruling that the allegations tied to their work on It Ends With Us could not proceed, while allowing several retaliation claims to move forward to trial in May.
In December 2024, Lively filed a $160 million complaint with the California Civil Rights Department, alleging inappropriate comments and misconduct by Baldoni. The complaint also involved Wayfarer Studios, the company that produced the movie. In response to Lively’s claims, Baldoni launched a $400 million countersuit against her in June 2025. This is significant because of the other celebrities, such as Ryan Reynolds (Lively’s husband) and Taylor Swift, who serve as witnesses and supporters. Before the allegations, Lively was accused of promoting the movie insensitively, marketing it as much more lighthearted than the themes, despite being about domestic abuse.
According to AOL in a 152-page ruling, U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman dismissed 10 of Lively’s 13 claims against Baldoni, including allegations of sexual harassment, defamation, and conspiracy, largely on legal and technical grounds rather than a determination of whether the alleged conduct occurred. According to Bloomberg Law the court found that Lively was working as an independent contractor, meaning she was not eligible to bring certain federal harassment claims under Title VII, and also ruled that some California-based claims lacked sufficient jurisdictional connection to proceed. However, the judge allowed three claims–retaliation, aiding and abetting retaliation, and breach of contract–to move forward, focusing the case on Lively’s allegation that Baldoni and his team engaged in a coordinated effort to damage her reputation after she raised concerns.
As stated by Bloomberg Law, evidence cited in the case includes text messages from Baldoni’s public relations team, including one that allegedly said, “You know we can bury anyone,” which may be used to support claims of a retaliatory smear campaign. The upcoming trial is expected to center on whether these actions meet the legal definition of retaliation.
Lively’s declaration of Baldoni’s sexual harassment was one of many things that sparked controversies about her online. She would refuse to appear with Baldoni in interviews, nor did she mention him in her own interviews. Later, she accused Baldoni of creating a toxic and unsafe work environment, saying he made inappropriate comments about her weight and created scenes that felt uncomfortable and unnecessary.
Baldoni’s legal team responded positively to the ruling, emphasizing that the dismissal of the majority of claims significantly narrowed the case. As People reports, in a statement following the decision, his attorneys said, they were “We’re very pleased the Court dismissed all sexual harassment claims and every claim brought against the individual defendants,” calling the allegation “very serious” and expressing gratitude for the court’s review of the evidence. They added, “What’s left is a significantly narrowed case, and we look forward to presenting our defense to the remaining claims in court,” reinforcing Baldoni’s continued denial of wrongdoing as the case moves toward trial.
The decision comes after a series of legal developments in the broader dispute, including the dismissal of Baldoni’s own $400 million defamation countersuit against Lively, Reynolds, and their publicist in 2025, which was officially closed after he did not file an amended complaint, further tightening the scope of the ongoing case as it heads toward trial.
The judge later dismissed the claims, stating that Lively was an independent contractor, therefore could not follow through. Liman felt that the alleged actions did not meet a certain threshold for “hostile work environment.” He believed that they were scene-related disputes rather than hostility, thus removing ten out of the 13 claims. Now, there is a federal trial set for May 18, 2026, in which Baldoni will seek $296 million in damages, as well as a pre-trial taking place on the 28 of April. Lively and Baldoni are expected to testify, and Reynolds will be on the witness list.
While the judge’s decision eliminated most of the claims, the remaining allegations ensure the legal battle will continue. The upcoming trial will determine whether Lively’s retaliation claims can be substantiated, keeping the case in the public spotlight as it moves forward.
