Judge dismisses Blake Lively's sexual harassment claims against Justin Baldoni

Lead

A federal judge in New York has dismissed the majority of claims in Blake Lively's lawsuit against her "It Ends With Us" co-star and director, Justin Baldoni, including allegations of sexual harassment and defamation. The ruling, issued Thursday by Judge Lewis Liman, leaves three claims—retaliation, breach of contract, and aiding and abetting in retaliation—to proceed to trial, which is scheduled to begin on May 18.

Coverage Comparison

Reports from ABC Australia, BBC, and The Guardian all confirm that Judge Liman dismissed 10 of the 13 claims in Lively's lawsuit. The three outlets agree that the remaining claims focus on retaliation, with The Guardian also noting that a breach of contract claim was preserved. According to ABC Australia, Judge Liman ruled that Lively, as an independent contractor, was not entitled to bring sexual harassment claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. BBC and The Guardian did not mention this specific legal reasoning in their coverage.

The case stems from Lively's December 2024 lawsuit, in which she accused Baldoni of sexual harassment on the set of the film and of orchestrating a smear campaign against her. Baldoni has denied the allegations, with his legal team calling them "categorically false." A judge last year dismissed Baldoni's $400 million counter-lawsuit against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, which alleged defamation and extortion.

Key Claims

• Dismissal of claims: All three outlets report that Judge Liman dismissed 10 of 13 claims, including harassment and defamation. This is based on the judge's written opinion, which ABC Australia reports was 152 pages long.
• Remaining claims: The three preserved claims are retaliation, breach of contract, and aiding and abetting in retaliation, though BBC only mentions retaliation and aiding and abetting. These claims will be heard at trial.
• Independent contractor ruling: ABC Australia reports that Judge Liman determined Lively was an independent contractor, not an employee, and therefore could not bring Title VII harassment claims. This detail was not included in BBC or The Guardian's coverage.
• Context of filming: In his ruling, Judge Liman reportedly analyzed the alleged harassment in the context of the film's production, noting that some conduct occurred while Baldoni was "acting in the scene."
• Previous rulings: All sources note that a judge dismissed Baldoni's $400 million counter-lawsuit last year.

Perspectives

Legal perspective: The ruling narrows the scope of Lively's case, focusing on retaliation rather than the original harassment allegations. Legal analysts may view this as a significant procedural setback for Lively, though the remaining claims still allow for a jury to hear many of the underlying allegations.

Public relations perspective: The case has generated extensive media coverage, with unsealed messages revealing private communications between Lively and celebrities like Taylor Swift. Observers have noted the potential reputational damage to both parties, as the legal battle continues.

Industry context: "It Ends With Us" was a global hit, grossing over $350 million, but its success was overshadowed by the legal disputes. The case highlights broader conversations about workplace conduct on film sets and the legal protections available to independent contractors in the entertainment industry.