A federal judge has dismissed Blake Lively’s sexual harassment claims against Justin Baldoni, citing her independent contractor status and the creative context of film scenes. However, two retaliation claims and a breach of contract claim will proceed to trial on May 18, keeping the Hollywood legal battle over “It Ends With Us” very much alive.
In a landmark 152-page ruling, U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman has thrown out Blake Lively’s sexual harassment claims against Justin Baldoni, but allowed critical retaliation claims to survive, ensuring the contentious “It Ends With Us” saga will culminate in a jury trial this May. This decision hinges on Lively’s classification as an independent contractor, not an employee, which bars her from suing under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act for workplace harassment CBS News.
The judge’s analysis delved into the specific incidents Lively alleged, including Baldoni leaning in as if to kiss her, kissing her forehead, rubbing his face against her neck, and commenting on her scent. While acknowledging such conduct would support a hostile work environment claim in a traditional office setting, Liman emphasized that Baldoni was “acting in the scene” during a slow dancing sequence. The ruling asserts that creative artists must have latitude to improvise within a script’s bounds without fear of harassment liability, a precedent with sweeping implications for the entertainment industry CBS News.
Despite dismissing the sexual harassment claims, Judge Liman preserved two retaliation claims against It Ends With Us Movie LLC and Wayfarer Studios, along with a breach of contract rider agreement claim. These surviving claims stem from allegations that Baldoni and his team retaliated against Lively after she raised safety concerns on set, including pushing for a nude birth scene filmed over hours without closing the set, and making inappropriate comments like “Sorry, I missed the sexual harassment training” after being warned CBS News. A trial is scheduled for May 18, where these allegations will be aired before a jury.
The legal fight began in December 2024 when Lively sued Baldoni, alleging a pattern of sexual harassment and retaliation. Baldoni, who directed and co-starred in the film, has denied all harassment claims. In a countersuit, he and his production company sought $400 million from Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, for defamation and extortion, but Judge Liman dismissed those claims last June CBS News. Lively further alleged in an amended complaint that Baldoni made other women uncomfortable on set, expanding the scope of the controversy CBS News.
“It Ends With Us,” adapted from Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel, was released in August 2024 and defied box office expectations with a $50 million debut, but its launch was overshadowed by persistent rumors of discord between Lively and Baldoni CBS News. This backstory fueled intense fan speculation, with audiences divided over the on-screen chemistry and off-screen tensions. The film’s themes of domestic violence resonated deeply, making the real-life allegations particularly poignant for a fanbase invested in the story’s emotional weight.
For the entertainment community, this ruling crystallizes a key legal divide: the line between creative improvisation and unlawful harassment. By emphasizing the “creative context,” the judge has offered a protective buffer for directors and actors, but the retaliation claims signal that raising safety concerns remains a legally actionable path. This case has already sparked industry-wide conversations about set conduct, power dynamics, and the treatment of independent contractors—a growing segment of the workforce in film and television.
As the May 18 trial approaches, the focus shifts to the retaliation and breach of contract claims. Lively’s attorney, Sigrid McCawley, has framed the case as a fight against “vicious online retaliation,” suggesting the trial will expose broader patterns of behavior beyond this single production. With both sides gearing up, the courtroom showdown promises to reveal more about the inner workings of a major film set and the consequences of speaking up.
The dismissal of sexual harassment claims is a legal victory for Baldoni’s defense, but the survival of retaliation claims means the core narrative—whether Lively was punished for advocating for safety—will be decided by a jury. For fans of “It Ends With Us,” this trial represents a chance for accountability, while for Hollywood, it sets a benchmark for how creative freedom and worker protections are balanced in the age of heightened awareness around workplace misconduct.
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