A federal judge has awarded actress Blake Lively just over $400,000 of the $8 million in legal fees she sought in connection with a dispute with actor and director Justin Baldoni over the production of their 2024 film "It Ends With Us."
In a written decision Wednesday, Judge Lewis J. Liman outlined the reasons Lively was not awarded the full amount requested after Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios LLC, filed counterclaims in response to Lively's December 2024 lawsuit. The judge acknowledged that Lively and Baldoni had engaged in a "fierce battle against each other in court."
The judge denied the bulk of Lively's legal fee request, citing limitations of a California law designed to protect individuals from retaliatory lawsuits related to sexual harassment and discrimination claims. This law, intended to shield survivors of sexual abuse from intimidating legal actions, was interpreted by the judge to allow reimbursement only for legal costs incurred in defending against defamation claims, rather than all claims Baldoni had made against her.
Consequently, Lively was deemed entitled to $363,245 in attorneys' fees and $44,206 in costs. Representatives for Baldoni and Lively did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Lively's initial lawsuit alleged she experienced 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 in the film alongside Lively, denied these allegations. He contended that Lively fabricated complaints about his conduct as an attempt to gain creative control over the movie.
Baldoni and Wayfarer filed a countersuit weeks after Lively's lawsuit, accusing Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, of civil extortion, defamation, invasion of privacy, breach of good faith and fair dealing, and economic interference.
In June 2025, Judge Liman dismissed the countersuit filed by Baldoni and Wayfarer. Nearly a year later, he rejected Lively's sexual harassment claims, ruling that she was considered an independent contractor, not an employee, during her work on the film.
In early May, approximately two weeks before a scheduled trial, Lively and Baldoni reached a settlement. In a joint statement, they indicated that Lively's concerns "deserved to be heard" and affirmed their commitment to fostering workplaces free of improprieties and unproductive environments.
"It Ends With Us," an adaptation of Colleen Hoover's 2016 novel, depicts a relationship that devolves into domestic violence. The film, released in August 2024, surpassed box office expectations despite criticism for its portrayal of abuse. The public dispute between Lively and Baldoni drew significant attention, overshadowing the film's message and commercial success.
Lively's lawsuit detailed incidents during filming where she claimed Baldoni made inappropriate comments about her appearance, violated physical boundaries during a love scene, and advocated for nudity in a scene depicting childbirth against her wishes. Baldoni maintained that his actions were within the normal creative process of filmmaking.
Lively is known for her roles in the 2005 film "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" and the television series "Gossip Girl" (2007-2012), as well as films like "The Town" and "The Shallows." Baldoni starred in the television comedy "Jane the Virgin," directed the 2019 film "Five Feet Apart," and authored the book "Man Enough."