Blake Lively’s legal dispute with It Ends With Us director and co-star Justin Baldoni became one of Hollywood’s most closely watched court battles. The Blake Lively lawsuit began after she accused Baldoni and others connected to Wayfarer Studios of sexual harassment and retaliation related to the film’s production and promotion. Baldoni denied wrongdoing and later pursued his own claims.
The litigation eventually involved competing allegations, a $400 million lawsuit, disputed text messages, public-relations firms, Ryan Reynolds, The New York Times, and even a short-lived subpoena involving Taylor Swift.
The legal picture changed significantly in 2026. A federal judge dismissed most of Lively’s claims in April, three claims remained, and the parties reached a settlement in May before trial. A later attorneys’ fees ruling resolved another major issue.
What Is the Blake Lively Lawsuit?
The Blake Lively lawsuit refers primarily to the federal case she filed against Justin Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios and several other defendants following their work together on It Ends With Us.
Lively alleged that she experienced inappropriate conduct during production and later faced retaliation after raising concerns. Her allegations included sexual harassment, retaliation, breach of contract, emotional-distress claims, defamation and other theories at different stages of the litigation.
The defendants disputed Lively’s account. Baldoni and associated parties also filed their own action against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, publicist Leslie Sloane and others.
Those competing cases did not have the same outcome. Baldoni’s major claims were dismissed in 2025, while most of Lively’s claims were dismissed in April 2026. Three of Lively’s claims remained until the parties resolved the dispute through a settlement shortly before trial.
Blake Lively Lawsuit Update 2026
As of October 2026, the central litigation between Lively and the Wayfarer parties has been resolved.
On April 2, 2026, U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman granted judgment to the defendants on most counts in Lively’s Second Amended Complaint. Three claims survived: a FEHA retaliation claim against It Ends With Us Movie LLC and Wayfarer Studios, an aiding-and-abetting retaliation claim against The Agency Group PR LLC, and a breach-of-contract claim against It Ends With Us Movie LLC.
A trial was scheduled for May 18, 2026. It never occurred. On May 4, the parties announced a settlement resolving the remaining litigation, and the federal action was subsequently dismissed.
The remaining attorneys’ fees dispute was addressed later. In August, the court awarded Lively $363,245.40 in attorneys’ fees and $44,206.35 in costs, for a combined $407,451.75.
What Happened Between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni?
Lively and Baldoni worked together on the film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s It Ends With Us. Baldoni directed the film and played Ryle Kincaid, while Lively starred as Lily Bloom.
Their professional relationship deteriorated during production. Lively later alleged that she raised concerns about conduct on set and requested specific workplace protections before filming resumed following the 2023 Hollywood strikes.
According to court records, a meeting occurred on January 4, 2024, to discuss Lively’s concerns and conditions for her return. Certain protections were subsequently incorporated into a Contract Rider Agreement.
The dispute became public around the movie’s August 2024 release and escalated dramatically after Lively filed a California Civil Rights Department complaint in December 2024.
Why Did Blake Lively Sue Justin Baldoni?
Lively alleged that Baldoni and others engaged in inappropriate conduct during the making of It Ends With Us and that she suffered retaliation after raising concerns.
Her case eventually included claims under federal and California law as well as contractual and tort theories.
A central part of Lively’s allegations concerned what she characterized as a retaliatory public-relations campaign designed to damage her reputation as controversy surrounding the movie became public.
Baldoni and the other defendants denied the allegations and challenged Lively’s claims both factually and legally. The April 2026 ruling ultimately rejected most of her causes of action but permitted three claims to remain.
Who Is Justin Baldoni?
Justin Baldoni is an American actor, director, producer and filmmaker. He directed It Ends With Us and portrayed Ryle Kincaid opposite Blake Lively.
Baldoni is also associated with Wayfarer Studios, the production company involved in making the film. His dual position as director, actor and Wayfarer figure made him central to the subsequent dispute.
He consistently denied Lively’s allegations and maintained that the public narrative surrounding the production did not accurately represent what happened.
His side eventually pursued separate claims against Lively and others, seeking $400 million in damages. Those claims were largely dismissed in June 2025.
What Did Blake Lively Accuse Justin Baldoni Of?
Lively’s allegations covered both conduct during production and events that allegedly occurred afterward.
She accused Baldoni and other defendants of sexual harassment or inappropriate workplace conduct, retaliation and participation in efforts that she claimed were intended to damage her public reputation.
Importantly, allegations in a civil complaint are not automatically established facts. Several of Lively’s legal claims were later dismissed, while three claims survived the April 2026 pretrial ruling.
Sexual Harassment Allegations
Lively alleged that Baldoni and others subjected her to sexually inappropriate conduct while It Ends With Us was being produced.
Her lawsuit included sexual-harassment causes of action under federal and California law.
In April 2026, however, the court granted judgment to the defendants on those causes of action. Among the legal issues considered was Lively’s status as an independent contractor rather than an employee for purposes of certain employment-law protections.
The dismissal was a legal ruling on the claims before the court and should not be described as a trial verdict establishing that every disputed factual allegation was either true or false.
Alleged Inappropriate Conduct on Set
Lively alleged various instances of conduct she considered inappropriate while working on the movie.
The allegations formed part of the broader disagreement over working conditions and eventually contributed to the January 2024 meeting concerning conditions for her return to production.
Baldoni disputed allegations of misconduct.
Because the litigation settled before a jury trial, there was no final jury determination resolving every factual disagreement between the parties.
Retaliation Allegations
Retaliation became particularly important after the April 2026 ruling.
Lively alleged that after she raised concerns about workplace conduct, defendants participated in efforts intended to damage her reputation during the film’s promotional period.
The court dismissed several theories but allowed Lively’s FEHA retaliation claim against Wayfarer Studios and It Ends With Us Movie LLC to survive. It also allowed an aiding-and-abetting retaliation claim against The Agency Group PR LLC.
Those claims were scheduled to be tried before the May settlement eliminated the need for a trial.
Alleged Smear Campaign
Lively alleged that Wayfarer-associated parties and crisis communications professionals participated in a coordinated effort to shape negative public narratives about her.
Court records show that Wayfarer and Baldoni worked with PR consultant Jennifer Abel and crisis-communications specialists, including Melissa Nathan and Jed Wallace, around the movie’s release. What those activities meant legally and factually was heavily disputed.
Lively characterized the conduct as retaliatory. The defendants rejected her characterization.
The settlement prevented a jury from deciding the surviving retaliation allegations.
Emotional Distress Claims
Lively’s litigation also included intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress theories.
She argued that the alleged conduct surrounding the production and subsequent dispute caused significant personal and professional harm.
Those claims did not ultimately survive through trial. The April 2026 ruling granted judgment to the Wayfarer parties on all counts except the three specifically identified retaliation, aiding-and-abetting and contract claims.
What Happened on the Set of It Ends With Us?
The parties presented sharply different descriptions of the working environment.
Lively maintained that conduct during production led her to raise concerns and seek workplace protections. Baldoni and the other defendants disputed key parts of her account.
Court records confirm that the dispute became serious enough for a January 2024 meeting to address conditions surrounding Lively’s return to production.
What Concerns Did Blake Lively Raise During Production?
Lively raised concerns about workplace boundaries and conduct she considered inappropriate.
Those concerns became central to her later argument that subsequent negative publicity constituted retaliation for protected activity.
The defendants disputed the substance and legal significance of the allegations.
The court ultimately allowed a narrower retaliation theory to survive while dismissing Lively’s sexual-harassment causes of action.
What Was Discussed at the January 2024 Production Meeting?
Court records state that Lively, Baldoni, producer Jamey Heath and others met at Lively’s apartment on January 4, 2024.
The purpose was to discuss Lively’s concerns from the earlier phase of production and conditions associated with her return.
Certain protections discussed in connection with those concerns were later incorporated into a Contract Rider Agreement signed around January 19, 2024. Production resumed, and filming concluded in February.
What Workplace Protections Did Lively Request?
Lively sought boundaries governing conduct during production and requested changes intended to address the concerns she had raised.
The precise allegations and requested protections became part of the litigation record.
Their legal importance extended beyond the harassment claims. The Contract Rider Agreement later became relevant to the breach-of-contract cause of action that survived the April 2026 ruling against It Ends With Us Movie LLC.
How Did Baldoni Respond to the Allegations?
Baldoni denied Lively’s accusations.
His legal team argued throughout the dispute that the allegations and public narrative omitted important context and that Baldoni had been unfairly portrayed.
Baldoni and associated Wayfarer parties went further by bringing their own claims against Lively, Reynolds and others.
Those claims ultimately failed in court, but their dismissal did not automatically establish Lively’s separate allegations as true.
Lively v. Wayfarer Studios Explained
Lively v. Wayfarer Studios LLC was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
The case expanded substantially after its initial filing. Lively amended her complaint, additional parties became involved, extensive discovery followed, and related claims filed by the Wayfarer parties were consolidated with the litigation.
By April 2026, the court had narrowed Lively’s Second Amended Complaint from numerous causes of action to three surviving claims.
When Did Blake Lively File the Lawsuit?
Lively filed her federal lawsuit on December 31, 2024.
Before that filing, she had submitted a complaint to the California Civil Rights Department on December 20, 2024.
The CRD issued a right-to-sue notice, after which Lively proceeded with the federal action.
Where Was the Lawsuit Filed?
The federal lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman presided over the litigation and issued several major decisions involving both Lively’s claims and the Wayfarer parties’ separate lawsuit.
Who Did Blake Lively Sue?
Lively’s Second Amended Complaint named multiple defendants associated with the film and its publicity efforts.
They included Justin Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios LLC, Jamey Heath, Steve Sarowitz, It Ends With Us Movie LLC, Melissa Nathan, The Agency Group PR LLC and Jennifer Abel. Other defendants had also appeared at earlier stages of the litigation.
The legal theories differed by defendant, so not every allegation applied equally to every party.
What Damages Did Blake Lively Seek?
Lively sought monetary and other relief connected to her claims, including alleged professional, reputational and emotional harm.
The litigation did not end with a jury damages award.
Instead, the parties settled the remaining underlying claims in May 2026. A separate issue involving fees and statutory relief continued afterward.
What Did Justin Baldoni Say About Blake Lively’s Allegations?
Baldoni denied the allegations and challenged Lively’s description of events.
His attorneys argued that evidence, communications and the production history provided context inconsistent with the narrative advanced by Lively.
Baldoni’s side also claimed that Lively, Reynolds and others had engaged in misconduct that harmed Baldoni professionally and reputationally.
Those allegations became the basis of separate litigation seeking hundreds of millions of dollars. The court later dismissed the major claims in that action.
Justin Baldoni Lawsuit Against Blake Lively Explained
In January 2025, Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios and related parties filed their own lawsuit arising from the dispute.
The action targeted Lively, Ryan Reynolds, Leslie Sloane, Vision PR and eventually The New York Times, among others.
Claims included defamation, civil extortion and interference-related theories.
The amended action sought $400 million in damages. Judge Liman dismissed its major claims on June 9, 2025.
Why Did Baldoni Sue Blake Lively?
Baldoni’s side alleged that Lively made or promoted false accusations that damaged his reputation and career.
The complaint also alleged that Lively and others attempted to gain greater control over It Ends With Us and its publicity.
Lively denied wrongdoing and moved to dismiss the case.
The court ultimately concluded that the challenged legal theories were insufficient to proceed in their existing form.
Why Was Ryan Reynolds Named in the Lawsuit?
Ryan Reynolds was named because the Wayfarer parties alleged that he participated in conduct connected to the dispute and made statements they considered defamatory.
Reynolds denied liability and sought dismissal.
Judge Liman ultimately dismissed the claims against him along with the principal claims against the other defendants in June 2025.
Why Was Leslie Sloane Named?
Leslie Sloane, Lively’s longtime publicist, and Vision PR were accused of participating in efforts that Baldoni’s side claimed damaged his reputation.
They disputed those allegations and moved to dismiss the claims.
The court granted the motions to dismiss the Wayfarer parties’ amended complaint.
Why Was The New York Times Named?
The New York Times was added to the Wayfarer parties’ amended complaint after publishing its December 2024 reporting about Lively’s allegations and the surrounding dispute.
Baldoni’s side claimed that the publication defamed them.
The Times defended its reporting and moved to dismiss. The court dismissed the claims against the newspaper in June 2025.
How Much Did Baldoni Seek in Damages?
The widely reported figure attached to the Wayfarer parties’ lawsuit was $400 million.
That amount represented damages sought, not money awarded by a court.
The lawsuit was dismissed before Baldoni obtained such a damages award.
What Did Baldoni Accuse Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds Of?
Baldoni and the Wayfarer parties presented a competing account of the breakdown surrounding It Ends With Us.
Their lawsuit included allegations involving defamation, civil extortion and interference with contractual or business relationships.
They also accused Lively and others of attempting to take greater control over the film.
These were allegations made by the Wayfarer parties, not findings that Lively or Reynolds committed the alleged acts.
Defamation
Baldoni’s side argued that statements portraying him and others as having engaged in sexual misconduct or retaliation were defamatory.
The court concluded that important statements underlying the claims were legally protected or otherwise failed to support viable defamation claims.
The dismissal therefore prevented the defamation theory from proceeding to trial.
Civil Extortion
The Wayfarer complaint also asserted civil-extortion theories based on alleged pressure applied by Lively and her representatives.
The defendants challenged whether the alleged conduct could satisfy the requirements of such a claim.
Judge Liman dismissed the theory along with the other principal causes of action.
Interference With Contractual Relationships
The Wayfarer parties alleged interference with contractual and business relationships connected to the film and its production.
The June 2025 decision dismissed the complaint while providing limited leave to amend allegations concerning certain interference and implied-covenant theories.
Those remaining opportunities did not revive the headline $400 million case into a successful damages action.
Alleged Efforts to Take Control of It Ends With Us
Baldoni’s side accused Lively of using her influence to obtain greater creative and promotional control over the movie.
This became one of the competing narratives surrounding the production.
Lively disputed the characterization and maintained that her actions were connected to legitimate concerns about workplace conditions and the film.
No final jury verdict established Baldoni’s broader takeover theory as fact.
What Happened to Justin Baldoni’s $400 Million Lawsuit?
Judge Liman dismissed the major claims in Baldoni and the Wayfarer parties’ $400 million lawsuit on June 9, 2025.
The ruling covered claims brought against Lively, Reynolds, Sloane, Vision PR and The New York Times.
The court permitted a limited opportunity to amend particular allegations involving contractual-interference and implied-covenant theories. The principal defamation, extortion and related claims, however, did not survive.
The dismissal represented a major legal setback for Baldoni’s side, but it did not itself resolve Lively’s affirmative lawsuit.
Why Did the Judge Dismiss the Defamation Claims?
A central problem was that many statements at issue were protected under legal doctrines governing reports of alleged misconduct and statements made in connection with legal proceedings.
The court also examined whether the pleadings sufficiently established the required elements of defamation.
Ultimately, the allegations were insufficient to allow the major defamation claims to continue.
Why Were Lively’s Statements Legally Protected?
Certain statements connected to Lively’s formal complaint were protected by legal privileges applying to statements made in connection with judicial or quasi-judicial proceedings.
Such protections exist so people can raise claims through appropriate legal channels without automatically facing defamation liability for doing so.
The protection did not mean a court had ruled every underlying allegation factually true. It meant the statements could not support the asserted defamation liability under the applicable legal standards.
Why Were the Claims Against Ryan Reynolds Dismissed?
The court found the allegations against Reynolds legally insufficient to establish the asserted causes of action.
Although Baldoni’s side objected to statements and conduct attributed to Reynolds, the pleadings did not satisfy the requirements necessary for those claims to proceed.
The dismissal therefore ended Reynolds’ exposure to the major claims in the Wayfarer action.
Why Were the Claims Against The New York Times Dismissed?
The Times had reported on Lively’s allegations and formal complaint.
The Wayfarer parties argued that the coverage was defamatory. The newspaper maintained that its reporting accurately reflected Lively’s complaint and was protected.
Judge Liman dismissed the claims against the Times, concluding that the complaint failed to establish a viable basis for defamation liability.
Was Justin Baldoni’s Lawsuit Permanently Dismissed?
The major claims were dismissed in June 2025, with limited leave to amend specific contractual theories.
The Wayfarer parties did not successfully revive the headline claims into a $400 million trial.
The court later entered final judgment in the Wayfarer action in October 2025, effectively bringing that separate lawsuit to an end.
Accordingly, references suggesting that Baldoni still has an active $400 million defamation case against Lively are outdated.
What Happened to Blake Lively’s Claims in April 2026?
April 2, 2026 brought the biggest pretrial narrowing of Lively’s case.
Judge Liman granted the Wayfarer parties judgment on all claims in the Second Amended Complaint except three.
The ruling eliminated ten of Lively’s thirteen claims and left a substantially narrower case scheduled for trial.
Which Claims Were Dismissed?
The dismissed claims included Lively’s federal and state sexual-harassment theories as well as defamation, false-light, conspiracy and other causes of action.
The court’s analysis varied depending on the claim.
For example, Lively’s employment status was important to the federal harassment analysis, while other claims failed for different statutory, contractual or evidentiary reasons.
Which Retaliation Claims Survived?
Lively’s fourth cause of action survived against It Ends With Us Movie LLC and Wayfarer Studios.
It alleged retaliation in violation of California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act.
This was one of only three causes of action remaining after the April ruling.
Which Claims Against Wayfarer Studios Survived?
The surviving FEHA retaliation claim remained against Wayfarer Studios and It Ends With Us Movie LLC.
The theory focused on whether alleged actions taken after Lively raised workplace concerns constituted unlawful retaliation.
Because the parties settled before trial, a jury never rendered a verdict on that allegation.
Which Claim Against The Agency Group PR Survived?
Lively’s seventh cause of action survived against The Agency Group PR LLC, commonly referred to as TAG.
The claim alleged aiding and abetting retaliation in violation of California law.
The court dismissed that theory against certain other defendants but found that the claim against TAG could continue.
Was Blake Lively’s Sexual Harassment Claim Dismissed?
Yes. The court dismissed Lively’s sexual-harassment causes of action on April 2, 2026.
Judge Liman determined, among other things, that Lively was an independent contractor rather than an employee for purposes of her federal employment-law claim. The court also rejected her state harassment theory under the applicable legal framework.
This distinction matters. Dismissal of a cause of action does not necessarily mean a judge or jury determined that every underlying event alleged by the plaintiff never occurred.
It means the particular legal claim could not proceed under the governing law and evidence before the court.
Why Was the Blake Lively Trial Scheduled for May 2026?
After the April ruling, three claims remained unresolved and were scheduled for a civil trial beginning May 18, 2026.
The expected trial would have focused primarily on retaliation and breach-of-contract issues rather than the much broader collection of allegations originally pleaded.
Both sides were expected to present evidence concerning the events surrounding production, Lively’s complaints and subsequent publicity.
The settlement announced on May 4 made that trial unnecessary.
Did the Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni Lawsuit Go to Trial?
No.
The surviving claims never reached a jury.
Lively and the Wayfarer parties announced on May 4, 2026 that they had reached an agreement resolving their dispute, approximately two weeks before the scheduled May 18 trial.
As a result, there was no trial verdict declaring either side the overall winner or determining the truth of every disputed factual allegation.
Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni Settlement Explained
The parties reached their settlement on May 4, 2026.
The agreement ended the core litigation arising from It Ends With Us and avoided what was expected to be a closely watched federal trial.
The settlement covered the remaining claims but left a separate dispute over Lively’s request for attorneys’ fees and certain statutory relief for the court to decide.
When Did Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni Settle?
The settlement was announced on May 4, 2026.
The timing was significant because trial was scheduled to begin on May 18.
The federal action was subsequently dismissed following the agreement.
Why Did the Parties Settle Before Trial?
The parties did not publicly establish a single definitive reason for settling.
Civil litigants commonly settle to eliminate trial risk, reduce continuing legal expenses, limit further public disclosure and achieve certainty.
In this case, both sides had already spent many months in highly publicized and expensive litigation.
The settlement allowed them to end the underlying dispute without asking a jury to decide the remaining claims.
Which Claims Were Resolved by the Settlement?
The settlement resolved the remaining underlying claims that had survived the April 2 ruling.
Those included Lively’s FEHA retaliation claim against Wayfarer Studios and It Ends With Us Movie LLC, the aiding-and-abetting retaliation claim against TAG, and the Contract Rider Agreement claim against It Ends With Us Movie LLC.
Were the Settlement Terms Made Public?
Initial reporting described the agreement as confidential.
However, the settlement agreement was later made public after Baldoni’s attorney released it in June.
Reporting on the agreement indicated that it ended the parties’ litigation and restricted future claims related to the dispute while leaving the attorneys’ fees matter for judicial determination.
Did Either Side Admit Wrongdoing?
The settlement should not be treated as an admission that either side’s disputed factual allegations were proven.
There was no jury verdict on the surviving claims.
Settlement agreements generally resolve litigation without requiring the court to determine every contested fact, and this case ended on that basis.
How Much Was the Blake Lively Settlement?
There was no publicly established monetary settlement payment from Baldoni to Lively for resolving the remaining underlying claims.
Reporting immediately after the agreement indicated that no money changed hands as part of the settlement itself.
This should not be confused with Lively’s separate request for attorneys’ fees.
In August 2026, the court awarded her $363,245.40 in attorneys’ fees plus $44,206.35 in costs. That approximately $407,000 award arose from the fees proceeding rather than a settlement payout compensating her for the underlying allegations.
Did Blake Lively Receive Money From the Settlement?
Available reporting indicates that Lively did not receive a monetary payout as consideration for settling the remaining lawsuit.
The parties resolved their litigation without a reported settlement payment.
Lively later received a court-ordered award of attorneys’ fees and costs.
Those are legally distinct matters. Describing the approximately $407,000 fees-and-costs award as a “Blake Lively settlement amount” would therefore be misleading.
Did Justin Baldoni Pay Blake Lively a Settlement?
There is no confirmed public record showing Baldoni paid Lively a damages settlement to resolve her surviving claims.
Reporting stated that no money changed hands in the May agreement.
Baldoni and Wayfarer were later ordered to pay qualifying attorneys’ fees and costs arising from Lively’s defense of the earlier defamation litigation.
That later obligation should be distinguished from the settlement itself.
What Claims Remained Outside the Settlement?
The principal unresolved matter concerned Lively’s request for attorneys’ fees and related statutory relief stemming from the dismissed Wayfarer lawsuit.
The settlement agreement specifically left the fees issue for Judge Liman to determine.
In June 2026, the court determined that Lively could recover qualifying legal fees but rejected additional relief she had sought.
The amount was determined in August, substantially reducing her requested figure.
Blake Lively Attorneys’ Fees Ruling Explained
The attorneys’ fees dispute became the final major financial issue following settlement.
Lively argued that she should recover costs incurred defending against Baldoni and Wayfarer’s failed defamation litigation.
Judge Liman agreed that she was entitled to qualifying fees under California law but did not accept the full amount requested.
In August 2026, he awarded $363,245.40 in attorneys’ fees and $44,206.35 in costs.
Why Did Blake Lively Seek Attorneys’ Fees?
Lively sought reimbursement for legal expenses incurred defending herself against the Wayfarer parties’ claims.
Her request relied in part on California statutory protections applicable to certain defamation actions arising from reports of sexual misconduct.
The court concluded that she could recover reasonable fees related to the qualifying defamation claim.
How Much Did Blake Lively Request?
Lively sought approximately $8 million in attorneys’ fees and costs.
The requested amount reflected substantial legal work associated with the lengthy and complex dispute.
The court did not approve anything close to the entire request.
How Much Did the Court Award?
Judge Liman awarded Lively $363,245.40 in attorneys’ fees.
The court concluded that the hourly rates were not necessarily unreasonable but found the number of hours for which reimbursement was sought excessive.
Only reasonable fees tied to the qualifying defense could be recovered.
What Costs Did the Court Award?
The court separately awarded $44,206.35 in costs.
Combined with attorneys’ fees, the total award was $407,451.75.
That figure is substantially below the roughly $8 million Lively requested.
Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds’ Role in the Lawsuit
Ryan Reynolds was not a plaintiff in Lively’s original lawsuit against the Wayfarer parties.
He became directly involved when Baldoni and associated plaintiffs named him as a defendant in their separate litigation.
The Wayfarer parties alleged that Reynolds participated in conduct harmful to Baldoni’s reputation and career.
Those claims were ultimately dismissed.
Why Was Ryan Reynolds Involved?
Reynolds is Lively’s husband and was alleged by Baldoni’s side to have participated in communications and actions surrounding the dispute.
The Wayfarer complaint attempted to connect him to its broader allegations of defamation and efforts to marginalize Baldoni.
Reynolds denied liability.
Was Ryan Reynolds Accused of Defamation?
Yes. The Wayfarer parties asserted defamation-related allegations against Reynolds.
Being accused in a lawsuit, however, does not establish liability.
The claims were challenged through a motion to dismiss and did not proceed to trial.
Were the Claims Against Ryan Reynolds Dismissed?
Yes.
Judge Liman granted Reynolds’ motion to dismiss the claims asserted against him in June 2025.
No jury subsequently found Reynolds liable for defamation in connection with the Baldoni dispute.
Blake Lively and Taylor Swift Lawsuit Connection
Taylor Swift was never a plaintiff or defendant in the main litigation.
Her name became connected to the case because of her friendship with Lively, references in communications that surfaced during the dispute, and an attempt by Baldoni’s legal team to obtain information through a subpoena.
The subpoena generated significant publicity but was later withdrawn.
Why Was Taylor Swift Mentioned in the Legal Dispute?
Swift was mentioned partly because communications cited during the litigation referred to her relationship with Lively.
One widely discussed communication involved a “dragons” reference concerning Reynolds and Swift.
Baldoni’s side attempted to use such communications as context for its allegations about Lively’s influence over creative decisions.
Swift’s representatives maintained that her involvement with It Ends With Us was limited and that she had not participated in the film’s production decisions.
Was Taylor Swift a Party to the Lawsuit?
No.
Taylor Swift was neither a plaintiff nor a defendant in the main Blake Lively–Justin Baldoni litigation.
Being mentioned in court-related communications or receiving a subpoena does not make someone a party to a lawsuit.
Was Taylor Swift Subpoenaed?
Yes.
Baldoni’s legal team issued a subpoena seeking information connected to Swift.
Her representatives objected, describing the request as unwarranted and emphasizing that Swift’s involvement with the movie was limited to licensing music rather than creative or production decisions.
What Happened to the Taylor Swift Subpoena?
The subpoena was withdrawn in May 2025.
As a result, Swift was not required to participate under that subpoena.
Reports indicated that Baldoni’s side considered the subpoena unnecessary after obtaining information through other means.
Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni Text Messages
Text messages became an important part of the public and legal narrative surrounding the dispute.
Both sides cited communications they believed supported their interpretation of events.
Some communications concerned creative decisions, others involved publicity strategy, and others related to interactions among Lively, Baldoni and people surrounding them.
The meaning of individual messages was frequently disputed.
Why Were Text Messages Important to the Case?
Written communications can provide contemporaneous evidence of what parties were discussing before litigation begins.
Here, texts were potentially relevant to issues including production concerns, creative control, public-relations strategy and the parties’ understanding of events.
They therefore became important both in court filings and in competing public narratives.
What Did the Messages Allegedly Show?
Lively’s side pointed to communications it argued supported the allegation that crisis-communications professionals were preparing or executing a strategy intended to damage her reputation.
Baldoni’s side cited other communications as evidence that Lively exercised significant influence over the production and that interactions between the two were being presented without proper context.
Neither interpretation should automatically be treated as a final judicial finding.
Which Messages Became Part of Court Filings?
Various communications involving Lively, Baldoni and PR professionals appeared in pleadings, exhibits and motion practice.
The Wayfarer parties also filed an extensive timeline in connection with their own complaint.
Court filings can make messages publicly accessible, but their inclusion does not necessarily establish the truth of a party’s interpretation of those communications.
How Did Each Side Interpret the Messages?
Lively argued that relevant communications supported her retaliation narrative.
Baldoni’s side argued that broader message histories showed missing context and undermined Lively’s characterization of events.
That conflict illustrates why isolated screenshots or selected messages should be interpreted cautiously.
The settlement meant a jury never issued a comprehensive factual determination about the disputed communications.
Justin Baldoni PR Team Text Messages
The involvement of public-relations professionals became a major element of Lively’s retaliation allegations.
Wayfarer and Baldoni worked with communications professionals around the film’s release as public controversy developed.
Lively alleged that certain communications demonstrated a coordinated campaign designed to damage her reputation.
Defendants disputed that interpretation and maintained that crisis communications were a legitimate response to a developing public-relations problem.
Who Are Melissa Nathan and Jennifer Abel?
Melissa Nathan is a crisis-communications professional who became involved with the Wayfarer side.
Jennifer Abel worked in public relations and was also connected to the communications strategy surrounding Baldoni and the film.
Both became relevant to Lively’s allegations concerning publicity and retaliation.
Court records identify Nathan, Abel and The Agency Group PR among parties involved at different stages of the litigation.
What Did Lively Allege About the PR Campaign?
Lively alleged that the campaign was not ordinary reputation management.
She claimed defendants attempted to create or amplify negative narratives about her so that she would lose credibility if she publicly discussed her workplace allegations.
That alleged connection between protected complaints and subsequent reputational activity formed an important component of her retaliation theory.
How Did the Defendants Respond?
The defendants rejected Lively’s characterization.
Their position was that crisis communications were justified by the public controversy surrounding the movie and that Lively’s allegations overstated or misrepresented their actions.
The court allowed only a limited retaliation theory against certain defendants to continue after April 2026.
Because the parties settled, those surviving allegations were never decided by a jury.
The New York Times and the Blake Lively Lawsuit
The New York Times became part of the litigation after publishing a detailed December 2024 report about Lively’s allegations.
The Wayfarer parties later added the newspaper to their amended complaint.
They alleged that its reporting contributed to reputational harm and asserted a substantial defamation claim.
The Times successfully moved to dismiss.
Why Did Baldoni Sue The New York Times?
Baldoni and the Wayfarer parties argued that the Times presented Lively’s allegations in a manner that unfairly damaged them.
They challenged the newspaper’s reporting and sought to hold it liable for defamation.
The Times defended the article as reporting based on Lively’s formal complaint and supporting material.
What Did The New York Times Report?
The newspaper reported on Lively’s allegations concerning the production of It Ends With Us, including her claims of sexual harassment and an alleged retaliatory publicity campaign.
Its reporting helped bring the dispute to broad public attention.
The allegations described in the reporting remained allegations rather than court findings at the time of publication.
Why Did the Court Dismiss the Defamation Claims?
Judge Liman concluded that the Wayfarer parties had not established a viable defamation claim against the newspaper under the applicable legal standards.
The court’s analysis addressed the relationship between the Times report and Lively’s formal allegations, as well as applicable defamation protections.
The claims were dismissed in June 2025.
Blake Lively vs. Justin Baldoni: Who Won the Lawsuit?
There is no accurate one-word answer.
Baldoni suffered a major defeat when his $400 million lawsuit was dismissed. Lively later suffered a major setback when ten of her thirteen claims, including her sexual-harassment causes of action, were dismissed.
Three Lively claims survived until settlement. The parties then resolved those claims without trial and without a reported damages payment under the settlement.
Lively separately obtained approximately $407,452 in attorneys’ fees and costs.
Calling either person the unconditional “winner” therefore oversimplifies a mixed procedural record.
Which Baldoni Claims Were Dismissed?
Baldoni and the Wayfarer parties lost the principal claims underlying their $400 million action.
Those included defamation, civil extortion and other theories asserted against Lively, Reynolds and additional defendants.
The claims against The New York Times were also dismissed.
Which Lively Claims Were Dismissed?
Ten of Lively’s thirteen claims were eliminated in April 2026.
The dismissed claims included her sexual-harassment causes of action, defamation and civil conspiracy, among others.
The ruling substantially reduced the scope of the trial that had been scheduled for May.
Which Lively Claims Survived Until Settlement?
Three claims remained:
- FEHA retaliation against Wayfarer Studios and It Ends With Us Movie LLC.
- Aiding and abetting FEHA retaliation against The Agency Group PR LLC.
- Breach of the Contract Rider Agreement against It Ends With Us Movie LLC.
Those claims were resolved through the May 2026 settlement rather than a jury verdict.
Why the Settlement Does Not Establish Every Disputed Allegation as Fact
A settlement resolves litigation without requiring a court or jury to decide every factual dispute.
That distinction is especially important here because both sides made serious accusations and both sides experienced significant dismissals.
The settlement therefore should not be described as proof that all of Lively’s allegations were established, nor as proof that Baldoni’s competing account was established.
The most accurate approach is to distinguish allegations, judicial rulings and unresolved factual disputes.
Blake Lively Lawsuit Timeline
The litigation developed over approximately 18 months and included several major turning points.
The key dates show why older articles about the case may now give an incomplete picture.
August 2024: It Ends With Us Is Released
It Ends With Us was released theatrically in August 2024.
Public attention quickly focused on apparent tension between Baldoni and other members of the cast during promotional events.
At that point, the full legal dispute had not yet become public.
December 2024: Lively Files a California Civil Rights Complaint
On December 20, 2024, Lively filed a complaint with California’s Civil Rights Department.
She alleged sexual harassment and retaliation connected to her work on It Ends With Us.
The administrative filing preceded her federal lawsuit.
December 31, 2024: Blake Lively Files Federal Lawsuit
Lively filed her federal action in the Southern District of New York on December 31, 2024.
The case eventually grew to include amended pleadings, extensive discovery and numerous motions.
January 2025: Baldoni Files $400 Million Lawsuit
On January 16, 2025, the Wayfarer parties filed their separate action against Lively and others.
An amended complaint followed, adding The New York Times.
The action became widely known as Baldoni’s $400 million lawsuit.
June 2025: Court Dismisses Baldoni’s Major Claims
On June 9, 2025, Judge Liman granted motions to dismiss the Wayfarer parties’ amended complaint.
The ruling eliminated the major defamation, extortion and related claims against Lively, Reynolds, The New York Times and other defendants.
October 2025: Final Judgment Entered in Baldoni’s Action
After the Wayfarer parties did not successfully revive the remaining theories, the separate action reached final judgment.
This effectively ended the headline $400 million lawsuit well before Lively’s own case was resolved.
April 2026: Court Dismisses Most of Lively’s Claims
On April 2, Judge Liman granted judgment to the defendants on ten of Lively’s thirteen claims.
Three claims survived: FEHA retaliation, aiding and abetting retaliation against TAG, and breach of the Contract Rider Agreement.
May 2026: Blake Lively and Wayfarer Parties Reach Settlement
On May 4, 2026, the parties announced an agreement resolving the remaining litigation.
The settlement brought the underlying dispute to an end before a jury could hear the surviving claims.
May 2026: Scheduled Trial Is Canceled
The trial had been scheduled for May 18.
Because settlement was reached roughly two weeks earlier, the trial did not proceed.
There was therefore no jury verdict deciding the remaining retaliation and contract claims.
August 2026: Court Awards Lively Attorneys’ Fees and Costs
On August 26, Judge Liman awarded Lively $363,245.40 in attorneys’ fees and $44,206.35 in costs.
The combined award was $407,451.75, far below the approximately $8 million she requested.
What Is Blake Lively Doing Now?
With the underlying litigation settled, Lively is no longer preparing for the May 2026 trial that once threatened to extend the dispute.
Public attention has consequently shifted away from the central lawsuit and toward the professional aftermath of the controversy.
Later reporting indicated changes in her publicity representation while she remained represented by her existing talent and management teams.
Those professional developments are separate from the court’s legal findings and should not be treated as evidence regarding the original allegations.
Is the Blake Lively Lawsuit Over?
The central Blake Lively–Wayfarer litigation is effectively over.
The parties settled the surviving claims in May 2026, and the underlying action was dismissed.
The separate attorneys’ fees issue continued temporarily after settlement, but Judge Liman addressed that dispute in August by awarding approximately $407,452 in fees and costs.
Accordingly, older reports stating that Lively and Baldoni are heading toward a May 2026 trial are no longer current.
Are Any Legal Issues Still Pending After the Settlement?
The principal dispute between Lively and Baldoni has been resolved.
The May settlement ended the remaining underlying claims, while the subsequent court proceedings addressed Lively’s request for attorneys’ fees and other relief.
The August 2026 fees ruling resolved the amount of recoverable attorneys’ fees and costs.
Separate or collateral proceedings involving other parties or issues can exist around complex litigation, but they should not be confused with an ongoing Blake Lively-versus-Justin Baldoni trial.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What Did Blake Lively Accuse Justin Baldoni Of?
Lively accused Baldoni and others of sexual harassment, inappropriate on-set conduct and retaliation, including an alleged reputational campaign after she raised workplace concerns.
What Happened Between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni?
Their working relationship on It Ends With Us deteriorated into competing lawsuits involving harassment, retaliation, defamation, publicity practices and contractual disputes.
Did Justin Baldoni’s $400 Million Lawsuit Get Dismissed?
Yes. Judge Lewis J. Liman dismissed the major claims in Baldoni and Wayfarer’s $400 million lawsuit in June 2025.
Did Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni Settle the Lawsuit?
Yes. The parties reached an agreement in May 2026, resolving the remaining underlying claims before the scheduled federal trial.
Who Won the Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni Lawsuit?
Neither side secured a complete trial victory. Both suffered major dismissals, the surviving claims settled, and no jury decided the remaining factual disputes.
Final Thoughts
The Blake Lively lawsuit evolved considerably from the explosive allegations that first drew public attention in late 2024. Baldoni and Wayfarer’s $400 million action was dismissed, but Lively later lost ten of her thirteen claims, including her sexual-harassment causes of action. Three retaliation and contract-related claims remained after the April 2026 ruling.
Those remaining claims never reached a jury. Lively and the Wayfarer parties settled in May 2026, avoiding the scheduled trial. The settlement itself did not produce a publicly reported damages payment to Lively. A separate court ruling later awarded her $363,245.40 in attorneys’ fees and $44,206.35 in costs.
For readers following the case, the distinction between allegations, dismissed claims, surviving claims and proven facts remains essential. A settlement ends litigation; it does not automatically establish every disputed allegation as true or false.
