A federal judge has thrown out the majority of Blake Lively's claims against Justin Baldoni, her co-star and director of the film It Ends With Us. In a ruling on Thursday, Judge Lewis Liman dismissed 10 of the 13 claims in Lively's lawsuit, including allegations of sexual harassment, conspiracy and defamation.
The remaining three claims – breach of contract, retaliation, and aiding and abetting in retaliation – will proceed to trial. The narrowed case will focus on Lively's assertion that Baldoni orchestrated a retaliatory campaign that spread negative stories about her online.
Sigrid McCawley, an attorney for Lively, said in a statement: "This case has always been and will remain focused on the devastating retaliation and the extraordinary steps the defendants took to destroy Blake Lively's reputation because she stood up for safety on the set and that is the case that is going to trial." She added that the sexual harassment claims were dismissed "not because the defendants did nothing wrong but because the court determined Blake Lively was an independent contractor, not an employee".
Lively had accused Baldoni of making unwanted comments about her appearance and weight during filming of the Colleen Hoover adaptation. In June, she withdrew two claims of emotional distress, and the same month Judge Liman dismissed Baldoni's $400m defamation claim against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds.
Released in 2024, It Ends With Us grossed more than $350m but was soon overshadowed by conflict between the two stars. Court documents have included unsealed messages between Lively and celebrities such as Taylor Swift. The case is set to go to trial in May after mediation failed last month.
