Liputan6.com, Jakarta - The legal battle involving Hollywood actress Blake Lively and actor Justin Baldoni has finally reached a resolution, as reported by Variety.
The two have agreed to settle their legal dispute over the production of the film "It Ends With Us" in May 2026, just two weeks before the scheduled trial in New York.
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The lawsuit stems from serious allegations made by Lively against Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios.
Lively accused Baldoni of sexual harassment and retaliation during filming.
Baldoni, in turn, denied all allegations and filed countersuits, creating a complex and protracted court battle.
In a joint statement, Lively and Baldoni expressed their commitment to the film and its noble cause.
Settlement Agreement and Joint Statement
The terms of the settlement between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni were not disclosed to the public, keeping financial details and other terms confidential.
However, both parties issued a joint statement through their attorneys, providing insight into the spirit behind the agreement.
As reported by Variety, in a carefully crafted joint statement released on Monday, the parties expressed their feelings about proceeding with the legal process.
In the statement, Lively and Baldoni stated, “The final product – the film ‘It Ends With Us’ – is a source of pride for all of us who worked to bring it to life. Raising awareness and making a meaningful impact in the lives of survivors of domestic violence – and all survivors – is a goal we support.”
They also added, “We acknowledge that this process has presented challenges and recognize that the concerns raised by Ms. Lively deserve to be heard.”
The settlement was reached about a month after Judge Lewis Liman dismissed 10 of Lively's 13 civil claims, including all harassment claims. The ruling left three counts—retaliation, aiding and abetting retaliation, and breach of contract—to be decided by a jury.
Background to the “It Ends With Us” Production Conflict
Blake Lively’s lawsuit against Justin Baldoni centers on the 2024 production of the film “It Ends With Us,” in which Lively and Baldoni co-star.
In late 2024, Lively filed suit against Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios, alleging sexual harassment and retaliation.
Lively’s claims included allegations that Baldoni made inappropriate comments about her appearance, violated her physical boundaries during a love scene, and encouraged nudity against her will during a scene in which her character gives birth.
Baldoni denied any harassment or organized a smear campaign, argued that Lively’s complaints were fabricated as part of an attempt to seize creative control of the film.
A few weeks after Lively's lawsuit, Baldoni filed a $400 million countersuit against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, alleging defamation and extortion.
Baldoni also sued The New York Times for $250 million over an article detailing the alleged tactics of his crisis PR team.
Legal Journey to an Amicable Settlement
Before reaching a settlement, the case underwent a series of significant legal developments.
In June 2025, Blake Lively withdrew two claims of emotional distress she had filed against Justin Baldoni.
This move signaled a shift in strategy in Lively's lawsuit, although the core allegations remained intact.
A few days after the withdrawal of the claims, U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman in New York dismissed Baldoni's countersuit against the Hollywood couple, as well as his lawsuit against The New York Times.
Judge Liman ruled that Baldoni's lawsuit lacked legal standing to proceed.
In April 2026, Judge Liman dismissed most of Lively's claims against Baldoni, dismissing 10 of the 13 counts, including harassment, conspiracy, and defamation.
The judge ruled that Lively could not bring a sexual harassment claim under federal law because she was an independent contractor, not an employee, while working on the film.