Justin Baldoni Lawsuit Dismissed, Blake Lively’s Sexual Harassment Case Moves to Trial March 2026
Blake Lively filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against Justin Baldoni in December 2024, alleging he harassed her on the “It Ends With Us” set and launched a coordinated smear campaign. Baldoni’s $400 million defamation countersuit was dismissed by Judge Lewis Liman in June 2025, with final judgment entered November 2025. Lively’s case proceeds to trial March 9, 2026.
The legal case involves dueling claims between Hollywood co-stars who went from box office success to courtroom warfare in six months.
What Is the Justin Baldoni Lawsuit?
Two lawsuits define this case: Lively’s sexual harassment claim against Baldoni and his $400 million defamation countersuit that was dismissed.
Blake Lively filed a complaint in December 2024 with the California Civil Rights Department accusing Baldoni of sexual harassment during production of “It Ends With Us,” which he directed. She formalized this into a federal lawsuit December 31, 2024 in the Southern District of New York.
Baldoni responded with a $400 million lawsuit against Lively, Reynolds, publicist Leslie Sloane, and Sloane’s company Vision PR, alleging civil extortion, defamation, and invasion of privacy.
Blake Lively’s Allegations Against Justin Baldoni
Lively’s complaint detailed a hostile work environment and coordinated retaliation campaign. Her 10-claim complaint included:
Sexual harassment on set. Lively accused Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios of creating a hostile work environment and strategizing to “destroy her reputation”.
Smear campaign. The complaint alleged Baldoni’s team launched a sophisticated “astroturfing” campaign to damage her public image after she raised workplace concerns.
Retaliation. Lively claimed the coordinated PR attack was retaliation for reporting sexual harassment and workplace safety violations.
Lively’s Amended Complaint: New Evidence
Lively filed an amended complaint providing “significant additional evidence and corroboration of her original claims”. The amended filing alleged:
- Baldoni “acknowledged the complaints in writing at the time” and “knew that women other than Ms. Lively also were uncomfortable and had complained about his behavior”
- Lively “was not alone in complaining about Mr. Baldoni and raised her concerns contemporaneously as they arose in 2023, not in connection with some imagined power play for control of the Film in 2024”
- Baldoni’s public persona as a “leader of the male feminist movement” is a “stark contrast” to his alleged private behavior of “hypocrisy, misogyny, and retaliation”
Justin Baldoni’s Countersuit and Dismissal
Baldoni filed a civil lawsuit seeking $400 million from Lively and Reynolds, alleging they “robbed” him and Wayfarer Studios of control over “It Ends With Us” and destroyed his “personal and professional reputations and livelihood”.
Baldoni also sued The New York Times for $250 million over its December 2024 article detailing Lively’s allegations.
June 2025: Judge Dismisses Baldoni’s Lawsuit
Judge Lewis J. Liman stated Baldoni failed to show that actual malice was involved in Lively’s allegations. For the Times defamation claim, the judge wrote that “The alleged facts indicate that the Times reviewed the available evidence and reported, perhaps in a dramatized manner, what it believed to have happened”.
Liman wrote in his opinion that “Regardless of the propriety of these actions, they do not constitute civil extortion under California law,” adding that “the Wayfarer Parties have not adequately alleged that Lively’s threats were wrongful extortion rather than legally permissible hard bargaining or renegotiation of working conditions”.
November 2025: Final Judgment Entered
A federal judge formally closed Justin Baldoni’s $400 million countersuit against Blake Lively on November 3, 2025. Baldoni did not file an amended complaint by the court’s deadline.
Current Case Status: Trial Set for March 2026
The actors are due to appear in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York March 9, 2026, with Judge Lewis Liman overseeing the case.
Lively’s sexual harassment lawsuit remains active while Baldoni’s countersuit is permanently dismissed. Lively’s original lawsuit against Baldoni in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York is still scheduled to go to trial next year.
The New York Times Sues Baldoni for Legal Costs
After winning dismissal of Baldoni’s defamation suit, the New York Times filed a lawsuit for punitive damages against Baldoni in September 2025. The newspaper is seeking “compensatory and punitive damages against plaintiffs who, like Wayfarer, commence or continue meritless legal claims for the purpose of ‘harassing, intimidating, punishing or otherwise maliciously inhibiting the free exercise of speech'”.
Timeline of the Blake Lively-Justin Baldoni Legal Battle
May-January 2023-2024: Principal photography on “It Ends With Us” in New Jersey
August 2024: Film released, generates $350+ million box office
August 2024: Fans notice Baldoni and Lively avoid each other during press tour and red carpet
December 20, 2024: Lively filed a 10-claim complaint with the California Civil Rights Department detailing a “hostile work environment” and alleged “Astroturfing” campaign
December 21, 2024: New York Times publishes article “‘We Can Bury Anyone’: Inside a Hollywood Smear Machine”
December 31, 2024: Lively formalizes federal lawsuit in New York; Baldoni sues New York Times for libel
January 2025: Baldoni files $400 million countersuit against Lively, Reynolds, and publicist Leslie Sloane
January 22, 2025: Baldoni’s team released footage from set depicting a dance scene they assert contradicts Lively’s sexual harassment claim; Lively requested gag order against Baldoni; judge denied gag order
February 2025: Baldoni launches website “The Lawsuit Info” presenting his version of events
April 2025: Revealed that Lively obtained text messages used in her complaint by filing a covert lawsuit in September 2024
June 9, 2025: Judge Liman dismisses Baldoni’s $400 million countersuit and New York Times defamation claim
July 2025: Blake Lively’s deposition took place
September 2025: New York Times sues Baldoni for legal costs and punitive damages
November 3, 2025: Judge entered final judgment formally ending Baldoni’s countersuit
March 9, 2026: Trial scheduled for Lively’s harassment lawsuit
Evidence and Court Filings
Baldoni’s team released footage from the set depicting a dance scene that they assert contradicts a major sexual harassment claim in Lively’s lawsuit.
Lively obtained text messages used in her California Civil Rights Department complaint by filing a covert lawsuit in September 2024, months before publicly filing her harassment claims.
Baldoni’s attorney expressed frustration with the secretive lawsuit saying “This sham lawsuit was designed to obtain subpoena power without oversight or scrutiny, and in doing so denied my clients the ability to contest the propriety, nature, and scope of the subpoena”.
Fallout and Industry Impact
WME drops Baldoni. Talent agency William Morris Endeavor (WME) dropped Baldoni after The New York Times’ article was published on December 21, with CEO Ari Emanuel confirming the decision.
Career damage claims. Baldoni’s lawyers argue the publicity cost him three jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars.
Insurance disputes. Harco National Insurance Company filed a lawsuit in July 2025 seeking declaration that its policies don’t cover Lively’s sexual harassment claims.
Legal Strategies and Arguments
Lively’s Legal Position
Lively’s attorneys claimed “Wayfarer and its associates have violated federal and California state law by retaliating against her for reporting sexual harassment and workplace safety concerns”.
Her team characterized Baldoni’s countersuit as “frivolous” retaliation designed to silence harassment complaints.
Baldoni’s Defense
Baldoni’s suit claimed Lively pushed a “false and damaging narrative” that was “rife with lies and doctored ‘evidence'” in accusing him of sexual harassment.
His attorney Bryan Freedman stated after the dismissal: “Instead of revising the existing claims, our clients will be pursuing additional legal options that are available to us.”
Subpoenas and Third-Party Involvement
Taylor Swift subpoena attempt. A man allegedly attempting to serve Lively’s friend Taylor Swift deposition papers on behalf of Baldoni was arrested outside her fiancé Travis Kelce’s Kansas City home in September 2025. Judge Liman had already shut down Baldoni’s request for Swift’s deposition.
Perez Hilton subpoena. In July 2025, Lively subpoenaed celebrity blogger Perez Hilton for communications with Baldoni, alleging he may have participated in a coordinated smear campaign. Hilton filed a motion to quash, denying he was part of any smear campaign and asserting “I was not paid by anyone to speak negatively about Blake Lively”.
Hybe subpoena. Lively’s subpoena seeks to recover documents from Hybe America about Melissa Nathan, Baldoni’s crisis PR agent since August 2024 and co-defendant in Lively’s suit.
What Happens Next
Lively’s sexual harassment lawsuit proceeds to trial March 2026. Key developments ahead:
- Discovery continues through early 2026
- Additional depositions of witnesses
- Potential settlement discussions
- Pre-trial motions and hearings
- Lively has filed a motion to recoup her legal fees
Baldoni has until June 23, 2025 to refile some of his claims, though he did not meet the deadline for amending his dismissed countersuit.
Implications for Entertainment Industry Workplace Standards
This case highlights ongoing concerns about power dynamics and harassment in Hollywood:
Retaliation tactics. The allegations of coordinated PR campaigns to silence harassment complaints demonstrate how powerful industry figures allegedly respond to workplace complaints.
Dual narratives. Both parties present conflicting versions of events, illustrating challenges in workplace harassment cases where evidence is disputed.
Industry accountability. WME’s decision to drop Baldoni signals potential industry consequences for harassment allegations even before legal resolution.
Public opinion battles. The case demonstrates how celebrity legal disputes increasingly play out through competing PR strategies and social media narratives.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Justin Baldoni lawsuit about?
Blake Lively sued Baldoni for sexual harassment on the “It Ends With Us” set and alleged he launched a smear campaign. Baldoni’s $400 million defamation countersuit was dismissed. Lively’s case goes to trial March 2026.
Who filed the lawsuit against Justin Baldoni?
Blake Lively filed the sexual harassment lawsuit in December 2024. Baldoni filed a countersuit that was dismissed.
What are the allegations against Justin Baldoni?
Lively alleges sexual harassment, hostile work environment, and a coordinated retaliation campaign designed to destroy her reputation after she reported workplace concerns.
What was the outcome of Justin Baldoni’s countersuit?
Judge Lewis Liman dismissed Baldoni’s $400 million countersuit in June 2025, with final judgment entered November 2025.
When is the trial?
March 9, 2026 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
What evidence has been presented?
Baldoni released video footage he claims contradicts harassment allegations. Lively obtained text messages through a covert September 2024 lawsuit. Her amended complaint includes additional corroborating evidence.
Did Blake Lively win the case?
Lively successfully defended against Baldoni’s countersuit, which was dismissed. Her harassment lawsuit against Baldoni is pending trial in March 2026.
What happened to Justin Baldoni’s career?
WME dropped him as a client after the allegations became public. His lawyers claim he lost three jobs and hundreds of millions in potential earnings.
Related Legal Resources
For more information about workplace harassment, employment law, and celebrity legal disputes:
- Brenay and Akira Lawsuit: TikTok Influencer Ordered to Pay $1.75M for Alienation of Affection
- Lisa Barlow Lawsuit Update: RHOSLC Star Confirms Multiple Cases Dismissed
- Warren Sapp Lawsuit: NFL Legend Demands $20M After Arrest
This article provides general information about the Justin Baldoni-Blake Lively lawsuit and should not be considered legal advice. Information is current as of November 2025 and may change as the case develops. Trial is scheduled for March 9, 2026.
About the Author
Sarah Klein, JD, is a licensed attorney and legal content strategist with over 12 years of experience across civil, criminal, family, and regulatory law. At All About Lawyer, she covers a wide range of legal topics — from high-profile lawsuits and courtroom stories to state traffic laws and everyday legal questions — all with a focus on accuracy, clarity, and public understanding.
Her writing blends real legal insight with plain-English explanations, helping readers stay informed and legally aware.
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