In a significant development within Hollywood's legal landscape, actor and director Justin Baldoni has formally requested a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit filed by fellow actor Blake Lively. The case, which centres on allegations of sexual harassment and retaliation during the production of their 2024 film It Ends with Us, was described by Baldoni's attorney as concerning nothing more than "petty slights."
Courtroom Clash Over Allegations
U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman presided over a three-hour hearing in a Manhattan courtroom on Thursday, listening intently to arguments from both legal teams. The session followed the recent unsealing of thousands of pages of court documents, including private text messages that have added fuel to the already fiery dispute.
Jonathan Bach, representing Justin Baldoni, urged the court to throw out the case. He contended that the context of filming a movie containing adult situations, including a pivotal birth scene, was crucial. "Context matters," Bach asserted, suggesting that the alleged incidents amounted to "trivial things and petty slights" that do not substantiate a claim for sexual harassment under the law.
Lively's Legal Team Presents Counter-Arguments
Esra Hudson, the attorney for Blake Lively, presented a starkly different narrative. She argued that Baldoni's conduct was "consistently inappropriate and crossing boundaries," alleging he deviated from the script to inject unnecessary sexual content. This reportedly included the hospital birth scene, where Lively claims she was pressured to simulate nudity, and a dance sequence where Baldoni allegedly "nuzzled" her without consent.
"You can see the look on her face," Hudson told the judge, referencing footage. "She is clearly having her boundaries crossed in that moment... She did not think this should be a hot and sexy movie at all."
A Complex Legal History and Celebrity Involvement
The lawsuit is the latest chapter in an acrimonious 13-month legal battle that has captivated the entertainment industry. The dispute became public in December 2024 when Lively filed a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department, followed by her federal lawsuit. The case has drawn in other high-profile figures, including Lively's husband, Ryan Reynolds, and her close friend, pop superstar Taylor Swift.
Unsealed text messages revealed a December 2024 exchange where Swift likened the dynamic between Lively and Baldoni to "a horror film no one knows is taking place." This followed Baldoni's own $400 million countersuit against Lively and Reynolds, which Judge Liman dismissed in June. A separate $250 million defamation case filed by Baldoni against The New York Times was also dismissed.
Judge's Scrutiny and the Path Forward
During the hearing, Judge Liman posed probing questions to both sides. He questioned whether individual defendants, including Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios Chief Executive Jamey Heath, could be held responsible for the conduct of others on set. He also challenged the notion that a director's every creative decision could be subject to jury scrutiny.
"Your proposition would seem to have every director's decision decided by a jury, and that can't be right," Liman told Hudson. However, he also noted to Baldoni's lawyer that "a whole bunch of little things can add up to a big thing," suggesting a potential pathway for Lively's claims to proceed.
Lively is seeking unspecified damages for alleged harassment, defamation, invasion of privacy, and violations of federal and state civil rights laws. Baldoni's legal team maintains that he addressed Lively's concerns promptly when raised and had a right to hire a crisis management firm after she began publicly criticising him.
Judge Liman did not indicate when he would issue a ruling on the motion to dismiss. A trial is currently scheduled to begin on May 18, 2026. The film at the centre of the controversy, It Ends with Us, received mixed critical reviews but was a commercial success, grossing over $351 million worldwide.
