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In a major legal update on Thursday, April 2, 2026, a federal judge in Manhattan tossed out the majority of Blake Lively's claims against her It Ends With Us co-star and director, Justin Baldoni.
Judge Lewis J. Liman dismissed 10 of the 13 claims filed by the actor, most notably the allegations of sexual harassment, conspiracy, and defamation.
The ruling narrows a sprawling legal battle that has captivated Hollywood since the film's release in 2024.
The judge’s decision to dismiss the sexual harassment claims rested largely on jurisdictional and legal grounds.
Judge Liman determined that Blake Lively was technically an independent contractor rather than a traditional employee, which precluded her from bringing certain claims under federal employment law.
Additionally, the judge noted that many of the allegations involved conduct that occurred during the "acting" of scenes, suggesting that while the behavior might be inappropriate in a typical office, it fell within the broader expectations of a film set.
While the headline-grabbing harassment charges were dismissed, the case is far from over.
Judge Liman left intact three of Blake Lively’s claims: breach of contract, retaliation, and aiding and abetting in retaliation.
These remaining claims focus on allegations that Justin Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios, orchestrated a retaliatory campaign to damage Blake Lively’s reputation by boosting negative stories about her online.
This aspect of the lawsuit will now proceed to a trial scheduled for May 18, 2026.
Blake Lively's legal team had previously argued that Justin Baldoni attempted to "destroy" her career after she complained about the onset environment.
With the case now narrowed to these specific issues, the trial will delve into the behind-the-scenes power struggle and the internal communications that the production’s high-profile stakeholders shared.
