Blake Lively is set to receive a little over $400,000 out of the $8 million she had initially demanded in legal fees from actor and director Justin Baldoni following the resolution of their dispute concerning their 2024 movie “It Ends With Us,” as ruled by a federal judge on Wednesday. Judge Lewis J. Liman, in a written decision in Manhattan, detailed why Lively was not granted the full sum requested by her legal team after Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios LLC, countered her December 2024 lawsuit with their own claims.
Acknowledging the intense legal battle between Lively and Baldoni, the judge declined the majority of the legal expenses sought by Lively, citing the constraints of a California law aimed at safeguarding survivors of sexual harassment and discrimination from retaliatory legal actions. The law, designed to shield survivors from lawsuits intended to intimidate and silence them, dictated that Lively could only be reimbursed for legal fees incurred in defending against defamation claims rather than all claims made by Baldoni.
Consequently, the judge decreed that Lively is entitled to $363,245 in attorneys’ fees and $44,206 in costs. Requests for comments were forwarded to representatives of both Baldoni and Lively.
In her lawsuit, Lively alleged instances of sexual harassment, retaliation, breach of contract, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligent infliction of emotional distress, and invasion of privacy. Baldoni, who helmed the dark romantic drama and co-starred with Lively, refuted the allegations of harassment or orchestrating a smear campaign, contending that the accusations were fabricated by Lively in a bid to seize creative control of the movie.
Following Lively’s legal action, Baldoni and Wayfarer filed countersuits against Lively and her husband, actor Ryan Reynolds, accusing them of civil extortion, defamation, invasion of privacy, breach of good faith and fair dealing, and economic interference. Ultimately, Liman dismissed the countersuit brought by Baldoni and Wayfarer and later rejected Lively’s sexual harassment claims, citing her status as an independent contractor rather than an employee during her work on the film.
In early May, just ahead of a scheduled trial, Lively and Baldoni reached a settlement, expressing in a joint statement that Lively’s concerns were valid and emphasizing their commitment to fostering work environments free from improprieties and unproductive atmospheres.
“It Ends With Us,” an adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel depicting a relationship deteriorating into domestic violence, premiered in August 2024, surpassing box office projections despite facing criticism for allegedly romanticizing abuse. The discord between Lively and Baldoni diverted attention from the film, overshadowing its message and success.
Lively’s lawsuit mentioned instances where Baldoni made inappropriate remarks about her appearance, breached physical boundaries during filming intimate scenes, and pressured for nudity against her wishes during a childbirth scene.
Baldoni refuted any wrongdoing beyond the norms of the creative filmmaking process. Lively’s acting credits include “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” (2005) and the TV series “Gossip Girl” (2007-2012), alongside roles in films like “The Town” and “The Shallows.” Baldoni starred in the TV comedy “Jane the Virgin,” directed the 2019 film “Five Feet Apart,” and authored “Man Enough,” a book challenging traditional male stereotypes.