Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni settle long-running legal dispute

Actors Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni have reached a settlement in their prolonged legal dispute, avoiding what would have been a costly civil trial. The conflict arose after Lively alleged that Baldoni, who also directed the film ‘It Ends with Us,’ behaved inappropriately on set, including making comments about his sex life and attempting to add unscripted sex scenes. Additionally, Lively claimed that producer Jamey Heath observed her topless despite being asked to look away. Baldoni and Lively’s legal teams issued a joint statement acknowledging the challenges of the process and emphasising the importance of Lively’s concerns being heard. They expressed hope that the resolution would allow all parties to move forward constructively. Previously, Baldoni and the studio Wayfarer countersued Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds for defamation and extortion, but these claims were dismissed by a judge last year. Some of Lively’s claims had been dismissed, but her allegations of retaliation were set to proceed to trial in May 2026. ‘It Ends with Us,’ based on Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel, grossed over $350 million at the 2024 box office, making it one of the biggest hits of the year. Lively was later seen at the Met Gala in New York, smiling in a vibrant ball gown.