April 03, (THEWILL) — A U.S. federal judge has dismissed most of the claims in a lawsuit filed by American actress Blake Lively against her It Ends With Us co-star and director, Justin Baldoni.
The legal battle began in 2024 after the filming of “It Ends With Us”, based on the novel by Colleen Hoover. Lively accused Baldoni of harassment and running a smear campaign.
He denied the claims and filed a countersuit, which was later dismissed.
On Thursday, Judge Lewis Liman struck out 10 of the 13 claims, including allegations of sexual harassment, defamation, and conspiracy.
Three claims, breach of contract, retaliation, and aiding and abetting retaliation, will go to trial in New York on 18 May 2026.
The case will now focus on Lively’s allegation that Baldoni and his company, Wayfarer Studios, carried out a retaliatory campaign after she raised concerns about his behaviour on set.
The judge said the harassment claims could not proceed under California law because filming took place in New Jersey.
He also ruled that Lively was an independent contractor, not an employee, limiting her ability to bring certain claims.
The judge also said the statements in Lively’s defamation claim were linked to the ongoing legal case and could not be treated as defamation.
Despite this, the court allowed the key retaliation claims to move forward, saying some of the alleged actions should be reviewed by a jury.
Lively’s legal team said the case has always centred on alleged retaliation and damage to her reputation.
They added that the harassment claims were dismissed for technical reasons, not because no wrongdoing occurred.
Lively is expected to testify when the trial begins.
The case has drawn attention in Hollywood and involves figures including Ryan Reynolds, Lively’s husband, and pop star Taylor Swift, whose messages were referenced as part of the case.
With most claims now dismissed, the upcoming trial will focus on whether Lively was retaliated against and whether any contracts were breached.
Evi Ben Ezaga writes on entertainment, culture, and trending stories.
