Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni Settle ‘It Ends With Us’ Lawsuit

Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni have reached a settlement, ending their yearslong legal dispute over allegations of sexual harassment and retaliation related to the 2024 film “It Ends With Us.” Their lawyers announced the settlement Monday following a court-ordered conference last week, with trial preparations halted as a result. The terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Lively had accused Baldoni, who directed the film, of sexual harassment during production, alleging inappropriate comments about her appearance, nonconsensual physical contact, and pressure to perform nudity against her wishes. She also claimed that Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios, retaliated against her by orchestrating a campaign to damage her reputation after she raised complaints. This campaign allegedly involved hiring publicists and a “digital army” to post negative content about her on social media and feeding false information to reporters.

Baldoni denied all harassment claims and rejected accusations of orchestrating a smear campaign. He contended that Lively fabricated the allegations to gain creative control over the movie. Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios countersued Lively and her husband, actor Ryan Reynolds, accusing them of defamation and extortion, but those claims were dismissed last June.

U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman previously dismissed most of Lively’s sexual harassment, defamation, and conspiracy claims, ruling that as an independent contractor rather than an employee, she could not pursue certain harassment claims under federal law. However, he allowed three claims, including breach of contract and retaliation, to proceed to trial. The trial was scheduled to begin later this month before the settlement was reached.

The legal battle drew significant attention in Hollywood, revealing private communications between Lively, Reynolds, and pop star Taylor Swift, and exposing candid studio business discussions. The case also highlighted broader cultural debates surrounding sexual harassment in the entertainment industry.

In a joint statement, attorneys for both parties said, “The end product — the movie ‘It Ends With Us’ — is a source of pride to all of us who worked to bring it to life. Raising awareness, and making a meaningful impact in the lives of domestic violence survivors — and all survivors — is a goal that we stand behind.” They added, “We remain firmly committed to workplaces free of improprieties and unproductive environments. It is our sincere hope that this brings closure and allows all involved to move forward constructively and in peace, including a respectful environment online.”