June 02, (THEWILL) — Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni returned to a Manhattan federal court on Monday, June 1, over legal fees linked to their previous defamation dispute.
The hearing follows the dismissal of Baldoni’s $400 million defamation lawsuit against Lively.
The actress is now seeking legal fees, court costs, and additional damages under a 2023 California law that protects people who report sexual misconduct from retaliatory lawsuits.
Lively’s legal team maintains that Baldoni’s lawsuit was baseless and retaliatory.
The dispute began after Lively accused Baldoni of sexual harassment during the production of “It Ends With Us.”
Baldoni denied the allegations and later filed a defamation lawsuit against Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds.
Although both sides reached a settlement in May 2026, the issue of legal fees remains unresolved.
Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, said the actor may use his experience to advocate for individuals who have been falsely accused.
The two co-starred in “It Ends With Us,” released in 2024, with Baldoni also serving as the film’s director.
Evi Ben Ezaga writes on entertainment, culture, and trending stories.
