Blake Lively is seeking to withdraw key emotional distress claims in her ongoing legal dispute with It Ends With Us co-star and director Justin Baldoni, signalling a dramatic twist in what’s shaping up to be one of Hollywood’s most high-profile court battles in recent years.
The legal clash, which has drawn widespread media attention, is set to culminate in a March 2026 trial. With reputations, careers, and an eye-watering $400 million at stake, the courtroom drama is already rivalling the film that brought them together.
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Lively backs down from emotional distress claims—for now
According to court filings reported by Variety, Lively has filed a motion to withdraw the emotional distress claims central to her original lawsuit. The actress had previously accused Baldoni of fostering a toxic working environment during filming in late 2024, alleging that his conduct caused “severe emotional harm” to both her and her family.
Her decision to walk back those allegations appears to have been prompted by Baldoni’s legal team’s demand for access to her private medical and therapy records—an invasive request Lively is not willing to comply with.
While her legal team has moved to drop the claims without prejudice (meaning they could be refiled later), Baldoni’s camp is pushing for them to be dismissed with prejudice, effectively barring Lively from raising the same accusations again. “Ms Lively cannot have it both ways,” said Baldoni’s lawyer in a strongly worded court submission.
Baldoni strikes back with $400 million defamation suit
In a stunning counter move, Baldoni is suing Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and their publicist for $400 million (approximately R7.8 billion), alleging defamation and reputational damage. He claims the trio conspired to run a smear campaign against him, which ultimately destroyed his career and led to his agency, WME, cutting ties with him.
Lively’s legal team has denied the accusations, saying the actor-director is attempting to weaponise the legal system to silence her after she spoke out about alleged harassment on set. “They are trying to shift the narrative,” her lawyers stated, pointing to what they describe as a pattern of intimidation and retaliation.
A case of celebrity, privacy, and power
The escalating feud raises significant questions around power dynamics in Hollywood, particularly when personal trauma intersects with public perception. Lively’s reluctance to hand over her private health records echoes a broader conversation around privacy rights—especially for high-profile individuals under intense media scrutiny.
At the same time, Baldoni’s sweeping defamation claim has stunned industry insiders, not only for its financial scale but for its implication that this case could alter the careers of some of Hollywood’s most recognisable figures.
With the trial set for March 2026 and neither side backing down, the outcome of this case may carry long-term consequences for both parties—and set a precedent for how such disputes are handled moving forward.
Representatives for both Lively and Baldoni have declined to comment on the proceedings. For now, all eyes remain on the unfolding courtroom battle, as what began as a behind-the-scenes dispute now plays out on a very public stage.
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