Blake Lively dealt major blow as Justin Baldoni case takes dramatic turn before trial

A federal judge has dismissed the majority of claims brought by Blake Lively against her It Ends With Us co-star and director Justin Baldoni, marking a significant twist in their long-running legal battle.

Judge Lewis Liman struck down 10 of Lively’s 13 claims tied to alleged misconduct during the production of the 2024 film, including accusations of sexual harassment, defamation and conspiracy.

However, three claims will proceed to trial, including breach of contract, retaliation and aiding and abetting in retaliation, ensuring the dispute will continue in court.

Case narrowed but tensions remain

Lively had accused Baldoni of creating a hostile work environment on the set of It Ends With Us, including making comments about her weight and body.

The allegations first surfaced in a December 2024 report by The New York Times.

She also claimed that after raising concerns, Baldoni and others linked to Wayfarer Studios launched a retaliatory smear campaign against her online.

Baldoni has denied the allegations, maintaining that criticism directed at Lively on social media was organic. He later filed a defamation lawsuit against The New York Times following the report.

Online reaction builds

Public reaction to the ruling has been mixed, with some social media users describing the dismissal of key claims as a major setback for Lively, while others argued that the remaining allegations heading to trial remain significant.

The case has continued to generate debate online, particularly given the high-profile names involved and the earlier fallout that drew in figures such as Taylor Swift.

Like I said before it has nothing to do with fact that Blake lively couldn’t prove her claims of sexual harassment against Justin Baldoni and more to do with the fact that under California law Blake couldn’t make a claim of sexual harassment because the filming took place in New… https://t.co/DJy4F3F7Ru

— Kiki (@PrincessKikiM98) April 2, 2026

To those of you claiming the claims were dismissed due to technicalities. The judge literally considered each claim and found either insufficient evidence or no wrongdoing on Justin Baldoni’s part. Stop parroting Blake Lively’s PR spin! pic.twitter.com/gQebh92Njl

— Third Mainland Bridget (@Thirdmainlom) April 3, 2026

From lawsuits to public fallout

The dispute escalated further in January 2025 when Baldoni filed a $400 million countersuit against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, accusing them of defamation and extortion. That countersuit was dismissed in June 2025.

The case has since drawn widespread attention, pulling in high-profile figures including Taylor Swift, after Baldoni attempted to subpoena her. Text messages between Swift and Lively were later unsealed as part of the proceedings.

Trial set to intensify

Despite mediation efforts last month, the two sides failed to reach a settlement, setting up a courtroom showdown in May.

It Ends With Us, based on a novel by Colleen Hoover, was a box office success, adding further spotlight to the dispute.

While most claims have been dismissed, the remaining allegations mean the case is far from resolved.