- Primary Subject: The out-of-court settlement between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, concluding their high-profile legal battle.
- Key Update: Two weeks before their scheduled federal trial, Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni have reached a settlement.
- Status: Confirmed
- Last Verified: May 5, 2026
- Quick Answer: Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni settled their It Ends with Us lawsuit on May 4, 2026, avoiding a trial after harassment claims were previously dismissed.
Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni's It Ends with Us legal battle has concluded as both parties have reached a settlement weeks before the supposed start of the trial.
In the last few years, the stars of the hit 2024 movie have been in the middle of a legal battle as Lively accused Baldoni of sexual harassment on the set and alleged that he and his publicists started a digital smear campaign against her. Meanwhile, Baldoni vehemently denied all the claims the actress has made against him.
How Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni's Legal Battle Ended
Reports confirmed yesterday that Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni have reached a settlement in their It Ends with Us legal battle, two weeks before the federal trial was originally going to start.
The terms of the settlement have not been made public yet, and the scheduled start of the trial in two weeks is no longer set to take place.
In a carefully crafted joint statement, both parties expressed their wish to move on from the tumultuous chapter of their lives and acknowledged that Lively's concerns during the filming of the movie "deserved to be heard."
"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," they said in the statement.
"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."
The settlement followed a court ruling last month that scrapped most of Lively's lawsuit, including every harassment claim. Only three counts (retaliation, aiding and abetting retaliation, and breach of contract) were still headed for a jury before the agreement was reached.
Hours after the settlement was announced, Lively made a surprise appearance at the Met Gala event. She was all smiles when she posed in front of the photographers, but she didn't participate in a red carpet interview.
What Happened in Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni's Legal Battle?
The It Ends with Us legal battle started in December 2024 when Lively filed an administrative complaint with the California Civil Rights Department. This coincided with a New York Times report revealing leaked text messages from Baldoni’s publicists that detailed strategies to "bury" dissenters and manage the fallout from Lively's allegations.
In response, Baldoni launched a federal defamation lawsuit against both Lively and the Times, arguing that she had fabricated harassment claims in a calculated attempt to seize control of the project and sabotage his reputation. Lively subsequently countersued Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios, citing harassment and retaliation.
The litigation saw significant setbacks for both parties. Baldoni’s defamation suit was dismissed early after a judge determined that the statements made by Lively and the Times were legally protected.
Following a year of intense discovery, the majority of Lively’s claims were also dismissed, primarily due to legal technicalities. The court ruled that her status as an independent contractor barred her from pursuing federal harassment claims. At the same time, the movie production's New Jersey location meant she could not seek relief under California’s specific harassment laws.
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