Blake Lively has been awarded a sum slightly over $400,000 out of the $8 million she initially sought in legal fees from actor and director Justin Baldoni following the resolution of their dispute over the making of their 2024 film, “It Ends With Us,” as per a federal judge’s ruling on Wednesday.
Judge Lewis J. Liman outlined in a written declaration in Manhattan the reasons why Lively was not granted the full amount requested by her legal team after Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios LLC, presented their own counterclaims in response to Lively’s lawsuit from December 2024.
Recognizing the intense legal battle between Lively and Baldoni, the judge declined most of the legal expenses sought by Lively, citing the constraints of a California law aimed at safeguarding survivors of sexual harassment and discrimination from retaliatory legal actions.
The judge clarified that the law, intended to shield survivors of sexual abuse from lawsuits meant to intimidate and silence them, only permitted reimbursement for expenses incurred in defending against defamation claims rather than all the claims raised by Baldoni against Lively.
Consequently, the judge ruled that Lively is entitled to $363,245 in attorneys’ fees and $44,206 in costs.
Requests for comments were forwarded to representatives of both Baldoni and Lively.
Lively had alleged instances of sexual harassment during the filming of the movie. In her lawsuit, she claimed she had experienced sexual harassment, retaliation, breach of contract, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligent infliction of emotional distress, and invasion of privacy.
On the other hand, Baldoni, who directed and starred alongside Lively in the film, refuted the allegations of harassment and smear campaigns. He contended that the accusations against him were fabricated by Lively as part of an attempt to gain control over the movie’s creative direction.
Following Lively’s legal action, Baldoni and Wayfarer countersued Lively and her husband, actor Ryan Reynolds, alleging civil extortion, defamation, invasion of privacy, breach of good faith, fair dealing, and economic interference. In June 2025, the countersuit was dismissed by Liman, and nearly a year later, Lively’s claims of sexual harassment were rejected on grounds that she was considered an independent contractor, not an employee, during her involvement in the film.
Ahead of a scheduled trial in early May, Lively and Baldoni reached a settlement, expressing in a joint statement that Lively’s concerns deserved attention, and they were committed to promoting workplaces free from misconduct and unproductive atmospheres.
The film, “It Ends With Us,” based on Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel depicting a relationship descending into domestic violence, was released in August 2024. Despite criticisms for allegedly glorifying abuse, the film surpassed box office expectations. However, the public fallout between Lively and Baldoni diverted attention from the movie, overshadowing its message and success.
Lively accused Baldoni of making inappropriate remarks about her appearance, crossing physical boundaries during filming intimate scenes, and pushing for nudity against her wishes during a childbirth scene.
Baldoni refuted any claims of misconduct beyond the normal creative process involved in filmmaking.
Lively’s acting credits include “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” (2005) and the TV series “Gossip Girl” (2007-2012), with subsequent appearances in films like “The Town” and “The Shallows.” On the other hand, Baldoni starred in the TV series “Jane the Virgin,” directed the film “Five Feet Apart” (2019), and authored “Man Enough,” a book challenging traditional views of masculinity.