Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni continue public feud after settlement in It Ends With Us legal battle
The legal battle tied to the film “It Ends With Us” may be officially settled, but the public dispute between actors Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni continues to intensify as both sides claim victory following the agreement.
Days after the settlement was announced, attorneys representing Lively described the outcome as a major win for the actress, arguing that Baldoni and the other defendants now face potential financial consequences after agreeing to settle and waive their right to appeal.
Lively’s legal team pointed to the possibility of significant legal fees and penalties tied to Baldoni’s countersuit, which had accused Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and their publicist of defamation and extortion. That countersuit was previously dismissed by a federal judge.
In new court filings, Lively’s attorneys argued that laws protecting individuals who report sexual harassment and retaliation allow for strong penalties against unsuccessful retaliatory lawsuits. They also said a joint statement issued as part of the settlement acknowledged that Lively’s concerns deserved consideration, which they believe undermines previous claims that her allegations were fabricated.
The actress’s legal team said the case was always about exposing what they described as smear campaigns and retaliatory legal tactics intended to silence people who come forward with complaints.
Attorneys representing Baldoni strongly rejected that characterization and insisted the settlement represented a victory for their side as well. Baldoni’s lawyer argued that most of Lively’s claims had already been dismissed by the court and said the remaining issues were resolved because her side recognized the challenges they faced moving forward.
The dispute began after Lively filed a lawsuit in late 2024 against Baldoni and his production company connected to the making of “It Ends With Us.” The lawsuit alleged that she and other women experienced inappropriate behavior on set, including comments about their bodies and discussions involving sexual topics and pornography.
A federal judge later dismissed the sexual harassment claims, ruling that Lively could not pursue them under employment law because she worked on the production as an independent contractor rather than an employee. However, some retaliation-related claims remained active before the parties ultimately reached a settlement.
The terms of the agreement were not publicly disclosed.
“It Ends With Us,” adapted from Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel, became a box office success following its release, though much of the attention surrounding the film centered on reported tensions between Lively and Baldoni during production and promotion.
Lively is widely known for roles in “Gossip Girl,” “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants,” “The Town,” and “The Shallows.” Baldoni gained recognition through the television series “Jane the Virgin,” later directing films including “Five Feet Apart” and authoring the book “Man Enough.”
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