Blake Lively is set to receive a little over $400,000 out of the $8 million she had initially sought in legal fees from actor and director Justin Baldoni following the resolution of their dispute over their 2024 film “It Ends With Us,” as per a federal judge’s ruling on Wednesday.
Judge Lewis J. Liman, in a written statement in Manhattan, clarified why Lively was not granted the full amount requested by her legal team after Baldoni and his company, Wayfarer Studios LLC, filed their own claims in response to Lively’s lawsuit from December 2024.
Acknowledging the intense legal battle between Lively and Baldoni, the judge declined the majority of the legal fees sought by Lively. This decision was based on a California law aimed at safeguarding survivors of sexual harassment and discrimination from retaliatory litigation.
The judge explained that under this law, which protects abuse survivors from lawsuits intended to intimidate and silence them, Lively could only be reimbursed for expenses related to defending against defamation claims, rather than all claims made by Baldoni. Consequently, Lively was awarded $363,245 in attorneys’ fees and $44,206 in costs.
Queries for comments were sent to representatives of both Baldoni and Lively.
In her lawsuit, Lively alleged instances of sexual harassment, retaliation, breach of contract, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligent infliction of emotional distress, and invasion of privacy.
Contrary to Lively’s claims, Baldoni, who directed and co-starred in the film alongside Lively, denied the allegations of harassment or orchestrating a smear campaign against her. He contended that Lively fabricated the complaints to seize creative control of the movie.
Shortly after Lively filed her lawsuit, Baldoni and Wayfarer lodged counterclaims against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, citing civil extortion, defamation, invasion of privacy, breach of good faith, fair dealing, and economic interference.
In June 2025, Liman dismissed the counterclaims brought by Baldoni and Wayfarer, and almost a year later, he rejected Lively’s sexual harassment claims, stating that she was considered an independent contractor rather than an employee during her work on the film.
Just before a scheduled trial in early May, Lively and Baldoni reached a settlement, expressing in a joint statement that Lively’s concerns warranted attention, and they both remain committed to fostering work environments free of improprieties and unproductive atmospheres.
“It Ends With Us,” an adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel depicting a relationship descending into domestic violence, was released in August 2024 and surpassed box office projections despite criticism for allegedly glorifying abuse. The dispute between Lively and Baldoni diverted attention from the film, overshadowing its message and success.
Lively’s lawsuit mentioned instances where Baldoni made inappropriate remarks about her appearance, crossed boundaries during a love scene, and insisted on nudity against her wishes during a childbirth scene.
Baldoni denied engaging in any behavior beyond the normal creative process of filmmaking.
Lively, known for her roles in “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” and “Gossip Girl,” transitioned to starring in films like “The Town” and “The Shallows.” On the other hand, Baldoni, recognized for his work in “Jane the Virgin” and as the director of “Five Feet Apart,” authored “Man Enough,” challenging conventional masculinity norms.