Blake Lively Breaks Silence After Judge Dismisses Key Claims Against Justin Baldoni
Blake Lively has publicly addressed the recent court ruling that significantly narrowed her legal case against director and co-star Justin Baldoni. The actress spoke out after Judge Lewis Liman dismissed 10 of the 13 claims she had filed against Baldoni, who directed her in the film It Ends With Us.
Major Legal Setback for Lively
On Thursday, Judge Liman threw out the majority of Lively's claims, including allegations of sexual harassment and fat-shaming. The ruling leaves the 39-year-old actress with just three remaining claims to pursue: breach of contract, retaliation, and aiding and abetting retaliation. The legal battle between the two Hollywood figures began in December 2024 and has been fiercely contested ever since.
Sigrid McCawley, a member of Lively's legal team, issued a statement to the Daily Mail following the ruling. '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,' McCawley declared. 'That is the case that is going to trial.'
Lively's Statement on Justice and Accountability
McCawley continued, emphasizing Lively's perspective on the proceedings. 'For Blake Lively, the greatest measure of justice is that the people and the playbook behind these coordinated digital attacks have been exposed and are already being held accountable by other women they've targeted.' She added that Lively 'looks forward to testifying at trial and continuing to shine a light on this vicious form of online retaliation so that it becomes easier to detect and fight.'
The statement concluded with a clarification about the dismissed sexual harassment claims. 'Sexual harassment isn't going forward not because the defendants did nothing wrong but because the court determined Blake Lively was an independent contractor, not an employee.'
Baldoni's Legal Team Responds
Meanwhile, Baldoni's attorneys expressed satisfaction with the court's decision. Alexandra Shapiro and Jonathan Bach told the Daily Mail: 'We're very pleased the Court dismissed all sexual harassment claims and every claim brought against the individual defendants: Justin Baldoni, Jamey Heath, Steve Sarowitz, Melissa Nathan, and Jennifer Abel.'
'These were very serious allegations, and we are grateful to the Court for its careful review of the facts, law and voluminous evidence that was provided,' they continued. 'What's left is a significantly narrowed case, and we look forward to presenting our defense to the remaining claims in court.'
Judge's Detailed Ruling and Contract Issues
In his comprehensive 152-page ruling, Judge Liman addressed several key aspects of the case. He determined that legal contracts Lively cited for her claims were 'unenforceable' because she hadn't signed them. Specifically, Lively did not sign the Actor Loanout Agreement (ALA), which would have governed sexual harassment on set, after months of negotiations with Baldoni's team about the terms.
The judge wrote: 'It is clear that the ALA is not and has never been a validly formed and binding contract, as IEWUM (It Ends With Us Movie) unambiguously expressed an intent not to be bound absent a fully executed and signed agreement.'
Judge Liman disagreed with Lively's argument that she could sue because there was 'no evidence the parties disagreed over the rest of the provision' regarding sexual harassment. 'That slices matters too finely,' the judge stated.
Independent Contractor Status Proves Crucial
A critical factor in the dismissal of many claims was Lively's employment status. Judge Liman ruled that 'the undisputed facts reveal that Lively enjoyed a degree of economic independence sufficient to make her an independent contractor,' meaning that certain employment laws did not apply to her situation.
The judge detailed numerous aspects of Lively's control over the production, including:
- A 12-hour cap on filming days
- Choosing 90 percent of the songs featured in the film
- Overseeing every shot that made it into the final cut
- Soliciting feedback from test screenings
- Selecting which takes would appear in the finished film
Judge Liman noted: 'She enjoyed the economic independence to walk at any moment with the only consequence being that she would potentially be in breach of contract.'
Specific Allegations Examined and Dismissed
The judge addressed several specific allegations in detail. Regarding the fat-shaming claims, Judge Liman wrote that they 'could not reasonably support a claim.' He referenced Lively's own statements about preparing for the role, including her acknowledgment that achieving a 'certain aesthetic' was 'part of the job that we both excitedly signed up for.'
Concerning allegations about improvised kissing during a dance scene, the judge stated: 'He was acting in the scene. Assuming he was improvising, the conduct was not so far beyond what might reasonably be expected to take place between two characters during a slow dancing scene such that an inference of hostile treatment on the basis of sex would arise.'
Remaining Claims and Trial Schedule
Despite the significant narrowing of her case, Lively retains three claims that will proceed. Judge Liman found that her claims under the Contract Rider Agreement (CRA) 'stand on firmer ground,' particularly regarding provisions against retaliation for raising concerns about on-set conduct.
The CRA, signed in January 2024 by producer Jamey Heath, included 17 requirements for Lively's return to filming, including that there would be 'no improvised sex scenes of any kind' and 'no retaliation of any kind against Artist for raising concerns about the conduct described in this letter.'
The trial remains scheduled to proceed on May 18 in New York City, though Lively's case is now dramatically reduced in scope. The legal battle has continued for more than a year since Lively first filed her lawsuit in December 2024, accusing Baldoni of sexual harassment, retaliatory conduct, and intentional infliction of emotional stress.
Background and Film Context
It Ends With Us, based on Colleen Hoover's 2016 novel, earned $148 million domestically and $350 million globally. The film starred Lively as Lily Bloom and Baldoni as Ryle Kincaid in a story centered around a toxic relationship. Despite its commercial success, the production has been overshadowed by the legal conflict between its leads.
Recent developments have included contentious depositions, with Lively's legal team complaining about 'probative' inquiries into her sex life and alleging 'lack of basic decorum' from Baldoni's attorneys during proceedings. All parties have consistently denied the allegations against them throughout the lengthy legal process.
