Court Narrows High-Profile Hollywood Dispute
A US federal judge has dismissed sexual harassment claims filed by Blake Lively against actor-director Justin Baldoni, significantly narrowing a closely watched legal battle linked to their 2024 film It Ends With Us.
US District Judge Lewis Liman issued the ruling after more than a year of contentious litigation. He concluded that the alleged conduct related to scenes involving Lively’s character rather than the actress herself. Moreover, he stated that creative professionals must retain room to interpret scripts without automatically facing liability.
However, the judge allowed parts of the lawsuit to proceed. Lively can still pursue claims that Baldoni’s production company retaliated against her after she raised concerns during filming.
Retaliation Claims Move Toward Trial
Meanwhile, Lively’s legal team said she intends to testify and present evidence that her reputation suffered after she spoke out about on-set conditions. Her lawyers argue that the defendants orchestrated a smear campaign that affected her career prospects.
In response, Baldoni’s legal team welcomed the dismissal of harassment claims and maintained that all allegations lack merit. They emphasised that the remaining case has narrowed significantly ahead of trial, scheduled for May 18.
The dispute began in December 2024 when Lively accused Baldoni and his company of creating a hostile environment during production. Baldoni denied the allegations and argued that he addressed concerns promptly while defending his decision to hire crisis management support.
As proceedings continue, the case remains under close scrutiny in Hollywood, with broader implications for workplace conduct and legal accountability in the entertainment industry.
