Trials & Litigation
Blake Lively’s sexual harassment claims against Justin Baldoni face legal setback
Actress Blake Lively is pictured March 7, 2026, in Wrexham, Wales, in Great Britain in the United Kingdom. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Actress Blake Lively cannot move forward with the sexual harassment claims part of her lawsuit against her It Ends With Us co-star and director Justin Baldoni, a federal judge ruled Thursday.
In a decision by U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman of the Southern District of New York, he ruled that Lively was an independent contractor and could not sue for sexual harassment.
However, Lively can, according to the 152-page ruling, still make a case that Wayfarer Studios, Baldoni’s production company, retaliated against her after she alleged sexual harassment on the movie set during the filming of the 2024 film, according to coverage by Reuters.
Lively alleged that Baldoni deviated from the script during filming, including nuzzling her in a dance scene and insisting that she wear little clothing during a childbirth scene. Baldoni’s lawyers indicated that they were pleased with Liman’s dismissal of the sexual harassment claims.
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