Judge orders Baldoni to pay Lively's legal fees in settlement
Judge orders Baldoni to pay Lively's legal fees; dismisses most claims and his $400M defamation suit.
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Blake Lively Justin Baldoni Settlement
Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni settled their legal dispute over allegations of sexual harassment and retaliation on the set of It Ends With Us. A judge ordered Baldoni to pay Lively's attorneys' fees under California's Weaponized Defamation Lawsuits Act, finding no evidence of malice in her statements.
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2026-08-16 to 2026-11-13 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 13 Jun, 00:37 UTC
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What happened
Judge dismisses Justin Baldoni's $400 million defamation lawsuit against Blake Lively
A judge dismissed Justin Baldoni's $400 million countersuit against Blake Lively in June 2025 (with one source indicating November). The suit had alleged civil extortion, defamation, and false light claims against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and The New York Times. The dismissal occurred as part of the broader legal dispute stemming from allegations of misconduct on the set of It Ends With Us.
Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni settle It Ends With Us legal dispute
Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni reached a settlement in their legal battle on May 4, 2026, just before their trial was scheduled to begin on May 18. The settlement occurred following Lively's December 2024 lawsuit alleging sexual harassment and retaliation on the set of the film It Ends With Us, and Baldoni's subsequent $400 million countersuit for defamation and other claims. The settlement details were kept private, and both parties released a joint statement expressing commitment to workplaces free of misconduct.
Judge dismisses most of Blake Lively's original claims against Justin Baldoni
In April 2026, a judge dismissed most of Blake Lively's 16 causes of action against Justin Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios, including allegations of sexual harassment, defamation, and conspiracy. However, the judge allowed her retaliation claim to proceed. This ruling came before the parties reached their May settlement and had significant implications for the scope of the case heading toward trial.
Judge denies Blake Lively's request for punitive and treble damages
Judge Lewis Liman denied Lively's motion for punitive damages and treble damages (triple the amount of actual damages) in her case against Baldoni. The judge ruled that the California Weaponized Defamation Lawsuits Act does not provide for such damages and does not circumvent federal procedural rules. Lively retains the right to seek these damages through alternative procedural mechanisms, including an independent lawsuit or counterclaim.
Blake Lively sues Justin Baldoni over sexual harassment on It Ends With Us set
Blake Lively filed a lawsuit against Justin Baldoni and his production company Wayfarer Studios in December 2024, alleging sexual harassment and retaliation on the set of the domestic violence drama It Ends With Us. Lively claimed Baldoni created a sexually charged, hostile work environment that discriminated against women and orchestrated a smear campaign against her.
Judge orders Justin Baldoni to pay Blake Lively's legal fees
Judge Lewis Liman ruled on June 12, 2026, that Justin Baldoni and his production company Wayfarer Studios must pay Blake Lively's attorneys' fees in connection with Baldoni's dismissed defamation lawsuit against her. The judge found no evidence of malice in Lively's statements and determined she was entitled to recover her defense costs under California's Weaponized Defamation Lawsuits Act (Section 47.1), which protects those who file harassment complaints from retaliatory defamation suits.
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