Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni's lawyers earned substantial fees during their lengthy legal battle. Although the 38-year-old actress did not receive any money from Baldoni, 42, after settling her lawsuit against his film production company Wayfarer just two weeks before the trial, their attorneys fared significantly better.
The It Ends With Us co-stars reportedly spent a combined $60 million to sue and countersue each other, according to Page Six. Baldoni was represented by high-profile legal expert Bryan Freedman and seasoned trial attorney Ellyn Garofalo, while Lively's legal team included top litigators Michael Gottlieb and Esra Hudson.
Despite Lively's claim that she lost nearly $300 million in earnings and income after being the victim of an alleged 'smear campaign,' no money changed hands in the final agreement. Freedman celebrated the settlement on Tuesday, declaring the result for Baldoni a 'huge victory.'
Legal Fees and Settlement Details
Freedman stated that Baldoni already felt like a winner in April, when a judge dismissed Lively's sexual harassment claims, in an interview with TMZ. 'He could breathe again. To be accused of sexual harassment on such a public level is devastating,' Freedman said. 'What he went through is just... I get emotional speaking about it, because he's such a great human being.'
The surprise settlement came just two weeks before the case was due to go to trial in New York. In a joint statement, both sides acknowledged that the filming of the movie 'presented challenges' and that Lively's 'concerns deserved to be heard.' However, there was no apology, only a call for everyone to move on 'in peace.'
The lack of a financial settlement sharply contrasted with Lively's requests for compensation for damage to her reputation and film career. The former Gossip Girl star claimed in court documents that she lost as much as $40.5 million due to being branded a 'mean girl' and a 'bully.' She also claimed missed opportunities of up to $87.8 million in lost acting and endorsement deals, and up to $143.5 million in lost profits from her haircare and alcohol brands after the controversy.
Reactions and Financial Support
Baldoni's lawyers dismissed these claims as 'pie in the sky' figures, arguing that Lively's reputation was already damaged by her own actions. It remains unclear who pays the multi-million legal bills for each side, but Lively has support from her husband Ryan Reynolds, worth an estimated $400 million. Baldoni has been supported by his friend, entrepreneur Steve Sarowitz, co-founder of Wayfarer, worth up to $3.4 billion. Baldoni's personal net worth is estimated between $4 million and $8 million, largely from his share of It Ends With Us profits, which grossed over $350 million worldwide.
The Daily Mail understands that Lively was the sticking point to a potential settlement, even though her team urged her to end the case months ago. Legal documents revealed that Lively's team was concerned as major corporate partners expressed worries over the It Ends With Us press backlash. Emails and text messages obtained by TMZ showed that a VP at Kroger told Lively's team at Betty Booze that the supermarket was 'closely monitoring sales' and expected a 'negative impact' due to her movie interviews. Princess Cruises and Brightline also expressed hesitation to partner with Betty Booze.
Lively allegedly planned to use this report as evidence of how her brand was negatively impacted in her trial against Baldoni before the settlement.
Background of the Legal Battle
Lively sued her director and co-star Baldoni for sexual harassment and orchestrating a smear campaign on December 31, 2024. The settlement came after a judge dismissed ten of her 13 claims, including all sexual harassment allegations. The trial was set for May 18 on three remaining counts: retaliation, aiding and abetting retaliation, and breach of an agreement. The ruling also removed Baldoni as a named defendant, leaving only Wayfarer and related entities to face trial for the alleged smear campaign, which they denied.
Baldoni and Wayfarer had countersued Lively and her husband Reynolds for $400 million, accusing them of defamation and extortion, but the judge dismissed those claims last June.
At the center of the case were several incidents Lively claimed amounted to sexual harassment, including Baldoni adding unscripted sexual moments, a friend playing a doctor during a birthing scene on an insufficiently closed set, and producer Jamey Heath allegedly barging into her trailer while she was topless. These allegations were thrown out.
The settlement marked the end of a two-year legal battle over the fallout from It Ends with Us, released in August 2024, which exceeded box office expectations with a $50 million debut.
Joint Statement
The joint statement read: '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. We acknowledge the process presented challenges and recognize concerns raised by Ms Lively deserved to be heard. 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.'
