Blake Lively has filed a federal sexual harassment lawsuit against director and co-star Justin Baldoni alleging inappropriate conduct, hostile work environment, and coordinated retaliation during production of It Ends With Us. The case is scheduled for trial in March 2026 with no settlement reached as of November 15, 2025. Lively seeks 161 million dollars in damages, claiming Baldoni and his production company orchestrated a smear campaign following disputes over on-set conduct.[1][2][3][4]
Primary Allegations and Defense Positions
Lively filed her complaint on December 20, 2024, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, listing the following allegations:[5]
- Inappropriate sexual conduct and unscripted physical contact without consent.
- Showing of nude videos and images to Lively.
- Weight-related comments made to a trainer.
- Creation of hostile work environment.
- Coordinated retaliation and defamation campaign.
- Online smear campaign damaging business ventures.
Baldoni’s legal team, led by attorney Bryan Freedman, denies all allegations and argues Lively was an independent contractor exempt from certain workplace protections. Baldoni claims the disputed kiss scene was improvised by Lively herself and that any weight inquiry was made privately due to back safety concerns during a lifting scene.[6][7][8]
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Financial Damages and Breakdown
| Category | Amount | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Earnings losses | 56.2 million | Acting, producing, endorsements |
| Blake Brown brand | 49 million | Beauty brand reputation damage |
| Betty Buzz/Booze | 22 million | Beverage company revenue loss |
| Reputational harm | 34 million | 65 million negative social media impressions |
| TOTAL | 161 million | Combined impact claim[9][10] |
January 2024 Confrontation Details
Court documents released November 13, 2025, reveal text messages between Baldoni and actor Rainn Wilson describing a heated January 5, 2024 meeting at Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds’ New York apartment where Taylor Swift was present. Baldoni wrote that Reynolds “was talking to me like a five-year-old and scolding me” and felt “emotionally paralyzed” during the encounter. Reynolds allegedly discussed Baldoni’s Man Enough podcast, claiming it created a false sense of safety among audiences.[11][12][13][14][15]
Critical Legal Developments
Baldoni’s 400 million dollar countersuit was permanently dismissed on October 31, 2025, after he failed to file an amended complaint by the court-ordered deadline. On November 14, 2025, Lively’s legal team filed a sanctions motion against Freedman, alleging he violated a February 2025 court order by making improper pre-trial statements and conducting what they characterized as a “press tour” designed to influence potential jurors.[16][17][18]
Key Witnesses and Discovery Disputes
Trial documents name Taylor Swift (subpoenaed), Hugh Jackman, Emily Blunt, Amber Tamblyn, America Ferrera, Gigi Hadid, Scooter Braun, and Colleen Hoover as potential witnesses. Lively’s legal team filed at least twelve discovery-related motions alleging Baldoni’s team withheld documents or improperly cloaked materials in attorney-client privilege.[19][20][21][22]
Colleen Hoover, author of the source novel, attempted mediation between parties but felt caught between both sides, stating privately she was “on an island” isolated by the conflict.[23]
What Happens Next
Judge Lewis J. Liman has not yet ruled on Baldoni’s motion to dismiss filed November 13, 2025. If denied, the case proceeds toward March 2026 trial where both Lively and Baldoni are expected to testify. The ruling timeline has not been publicly announced, though decisions are typically issued within weeks of filing.[24][25][26]
