Blake Lively will receive a sum slightly over $400,000 out of the $8 million she had initially sought in legal fees from actor and filmmaker Justin Baldoni following the resolution of their dispute over their 2024 movie “It Ends With Us,” as per a ruling by a federal judge on Wednesday.
Judge Lewis J. Liman, in a written decision in Manhattan, detailed why Lively was not granted the full amount requested by her legal team after Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios LLC, presented their own claims in response to Lively’s lawsuit filed in December 2024.
Recognizing the intense legal battle between Lively and Baldoni, the judge declined to award Lively the majority of the legal fees she sought, citing a California law that aims to safeguard survivors of sexual harassment and discrimination from retaliatory legal actions.
The judge highlighted that under this law, intended to protect survivors from legal maneuvers meant to intimidate and silence them, Lively could only be reimbursed for expenses incurred in defending against defamation claims rather than all the claims raised by Baldoni.
Consequently, the judge determined that Lively is entitled to $363,245 in attorneys’ fees and $44,206 in costs.
In her lawsuit, Lively alleged instances of sexual harassment, retaliation, breach of contract, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligent infliction of emotional distress, and invasion of privacy.
Baldoni, who directed and starred alongside Lively in the dark romantic drama, refuted the allegations of harassment and smear campaigns, contending that Lively fabricated the complaints to seize creative control of the film.
Following Lively’s legal action, Baldoni and Wayfarer countersued Lively and her husband, actor Ryan Reynolds, citing civil extortion, defamation, invasion of privacy, breach of good faith and fair dealing, and economic interference.
In June 2025, Liman dismissed the countersuit filed by Baldoni and Wayfarer and nearly a year later rejected Lively’s claims of sexual harassment, reasoning that she was an independent contractor, not an employee, during her work on the movie.
Just before a scheduled trial in early May, Lively and Baldoni reached a settlement, expressing in a joint statement that Lively’s concerns warranted attention and emphasizing their commitment to fostering workplaces free of misconduct and unproductive atmospheres.
“It Ends With Us,” a film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel portraying a deteriorating relationship culminating in domestic violence, was released in August 2024. Despite criticisms of glorifying abuse, the movie surpassed box office projections. However, the publicized discord between Lively and Baldoni diverted attention from the film, overshadowing its message and success.
Lively’s lawsuit outlined instances where Baldoni purportedly made inappropriate comments about her appearance, violated personal boundaries during filming intimate scenes, and pressured for nudity against her wishes during a childbirth scene in the movie.
Baldoni maintained that his actions fell within the standard creative process of filmmaking.
Lively is known for her roles in “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” (2005), the TV series “Gossip Girl” (2007-2012), and subsequent films like “The Town” and “The Shallows.” Meanwhile, Baldoni starred in the TV show “Jane the Virgin,” directed the 2019 film “Five Feet Apart,” and authored “Man Enough,” a book challenging conventional concepts of masculinity.