Blake Lively was awarded approximately $400,000 in attorneys' fees following her legal dispute with director Justin Baldoni, a significant reduction from the $8 million she had requested. The ruling by a judge stipulated that Baldoni will pay Lively $363,245.40 in attorneys' fees and an additional $44,206.35 in costs. Lively had initially sought $7,495,526.87 in attorneys' fees and $539,514.01 in litigation costs and expenses from Baldoni and his Wayfarer Studios. Baldoni's legal team had characterized Lively's demand as "excessive" and "anything but a typical fee motion."
The legal battle stemmed from Lively's 2024 lawsuit against Baldoni, in which she alleged sexual harassment on the set of their film "It Ends With Us." The two parties reached a settlement in May. In a joint statement at the time, both sides expressed pride in the completed film and a commitment to raising awareness for domestic violence survivors. They acknowledged that the production process presented challenges and that concerns raised by Lively "deserved to be heard."
Lively and Baldoni also stated their commitment to "workplaces free of improprieties and unproductive environments" and hoped the resolution would allow for constructive and peaceful forward movement. Sources indicated that neither Lively nor Baldoni received any money from the lawsuit settlement, though their respective legal teams reportedly earned $60 million combined. Baldoni has previously spoken about the settlement, expressing gratitude for support and noting the desire not to add to the "noise" surrounding the allegations.