Blake Lively will be awarded slightly over $400,000 out of the $8 million she initially requested in legal fees from actor and director Justin Baldoni following the resolution of their dispute over the production of their 2024 film “It Ends With Us,” as per a federal judge’s decision on Wednesday.
Judge Lewis J. Liman detailed in a written ruling in Manhattan why Lively was not granted the full sum that her legal team claimed was expended after Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios LLC, lodged their own counterclaims following her lawsuit in December 2024.
Recognizing the intense legal battle between Lively and Baldoni, the judge declined most of the legal fees sought by Lively, citing the constraints of a California law aimed at safeguarding survivors of sexual harassment and discrimination from retaliatory legal actions.
According to the judge, the law, which aims to shield survivors of sexual abuse from legal maneuvers meant to intimidate and silence them, only allowed for reimbursement of fees spent on defending against defamation allegations rather than all the claims made by Baldoni. Consequently, Lively is set to receive $363,245 in attorneys’ fees and $44,206 in costs.
Requests for statements were dispatched to representatives of both Baldoni and Lively.
In her legal action, 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 helmed the dark romantic drama and starred alongside Lively, refuted claims of harassing her or orchestrating a smear campaign. He contended that the accusations against him were fabricated by Lively to secure control over the film’s creative direction.
Shortly after Lively’s lawsuit, Baldoni and Wayfarer initiated counterclaims against Lively and her spouse, 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 counterclaims brought by Baldoni and Wayfarer and almost a year later rejected Lively’s sexual harassment assertions on the basis that she was an independent contractor rather than an employee during her involvement in the movie.
In early May, just prior to a scheduled trial, Lively and Baldoni reached a settlement, affirming in a joint statement that Lively’s concerns “merited attention” and that they are “firmly committed to fostering workplaces free of improprieties and unproductive atmospheres.”
“It Ends With Us,” an adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling 2016 novel centering on a relationship descending into domestic violence, hit theaters in August 2024, surpassing box office predictions despite criticisms of glorifying abuse. However, the discord between Lively and Baldoni diverted attention from the film, overshadowing its message and success.
Lively stated in her lawsuit that during filming, Baldoni made inappropriate remarks about her appearance, breached physical boundaries while shooting a love scene, and pushed for nudity against her wishes in a scene depicting her character giving birth.
Baldoni refuted engaging in any conduct beyond the standard creative process of filmmaking.
Lively’s acting credits include the 2005 movie “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” and the TV series “Gossip Girl” from 2007 to 2012, with subsequent roles in films such as “The Town” and “The Shallows.”
Baldoni starred in the TV comedy “Jane the Virgin,” directed the 2019 film “Five Feet Apart,” and authored “Man Enough,” a book challenging conventional perceptions of masculinity.