Trigger Warning: This article contains references to sexual harassment. There have been major developments in the ‘It Ends With Us’ co-stars Blake Lively and Justin Baldoniit is an ongoing legal battle. According to the latest reports from the last hearing of the case, 10 of the 13 claims made by the actor against Baldoni have been officially dismissed.
Judge dismisses most of Blake Lively’s claims against Justin Baldoni
PEOPLE reported on April 2 that Judge Lewis J. Liman of the Southern District of New York dismissed 10 of Lively’s general claims against the film’s actor and director. Two of the claims, one for breach of contract and the other for FEHA retaliation against Baldoni’s company, will continue and will be addressed at the next trial.Lively’s legal representatives also released a statement about it. Sigrid McCawley, one of Blake’s legal team members, noted that many of the claims, including sexual harassment, were dismissed for a specific reason. He said: “The sexual harassment case will not go forward, not because the defendants did nothing wrong, but because the judge ruled that Blake Lively was an independent contractor, not an employee.“
Blake Lively hopes to go to trial against Justin Baldoni
Despite her release, Lively remains optimistic and is excited to go to trial. The statement added: “For Blake Lively, the greatest measure of justice is that the people and venues behind these coordinated digital attacks are exposed and held accountable to the other women who have already been targeted. She hopes that she will testify at trial and continue to shed light on this vicious form of online revenge, making it easier to detect and combat.”“The legal representation has also determined that the main focus of the entire case has always been the defamation campaign and all the steps taken by the defendant (Baldoni) to destroy the ‘The Age of Adaline’ actress. The case will be officially heard on May 18.
More about the case
The legal case began in December 2024, when, shortly after the release of ‘It Ends With Us’, Blake Lively publicly accused Baldoni of running a smear campaign against her to damage her reputation. The ‘Gossip Girl’ star also filed a sexual harassment complaint against him. Baldoni denied all allegations and sued the actress, alleging that she and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, were involved in extortion and defamation. His lawsuit, which was worth $400 million, was dismissed last year. Since the official launch, many other celebrities have been named in the case, including Taylor Swift, Ryan Reynolds, Hailey Bieber, Gigi Hadid, Hugh Jackman, Emily Blunt and Scooter Braun.Disclaimer: The information in this report is based on a legal hearing reported by a third party source. The details given are allegations made by the parties involved and are not proven facts. The case continues, and a final verdict has not been reached. The publication does not claim that the allegations are true.
