Actress Blake Lively has walked away without any financial compensation after reaching a settlement with her “It Ends With Us” co-star Justin Baldoni. However, the legal battle is far from over.
While the pair ended their dispute just two weeks before they were scheduled to go to trial in New York over contentious dueling claims, a pending motion remains before the district court of the Southern District of New York.
Lively, 38, is seeking attorneys’ fees and damages from Baldoni, 42, after his failed $400 million defamation suit against her.
“Ms. Lively respectfully requests a ruling that she is a ‘prevailing defendant’ and, as such, that she is entitled to: her ‘reasonable attorney’s fees and costs for successfully defending [herself] in the litigation,’ treble damages for the harm caused by the Wayfarer Parties’ retaliatory ‘defamation action’ against her, and punitive damages,” reads the motion.
In December 2024, Lively filed a complaint accusing Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios of sexual harassment along with defamation and conspiracy pursued in an effort to “destroy” her public image.
In response, Baldoni, who also directed the film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling 2016 novel, vehemently denied the claims and countersued for extortion and defamation.
The following year, he went on to separately file a $250 libel suit against The New York Times, which first reported on the matter, claiming unfair treatment and interference from the publication. Both suits were ultimately dismissed.
On April 2, District Judge Lewis Liman found that under the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Lively is viewed as an independent contractor, not an employee, and was not entitled to bring forward sexual harassment claims. The law bans discriminatory practices based on gender, race, or religion.
As a result, Liman tossed 10 of the 13 claims she made against Baldoni over conduct on the set of their film. Three of Lively’s claims of breach, of contract, retaliation, and aiding and abetting retaliation, were left intact, but she has since agreed to have them dropped, avoiding the May 18 trial date.
In a joint statement, attorneys for both parties confirmed the settlement agreement, noting a commonality they share is “raising awareness, and making a meaningful impact in the lives of domestic violence survivors, and all survivors” through the film.
“We acknowledge the process presented challenges and recognize concerns raised by Ms. Lively deserved to be heard. We remain firmly committed to workplaces free of improprieties and unproductive environments,” continued the statement.
“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.”
Meanwhile, Lively and her husband, actor Ryan Reynolds, appeared to be in high spirits after news of the settlement broke, posing for a smiling selfie that was posted to Reynolds’ Instagram stories on May 5.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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