Blake Lively is set to receive a little over $400,000 out of the $8 million she initially demanded in legal fees from actor and director Justin Baldoni following the resolution of their dispute over their 2024 film “It Ends With Us,” as per a ruling by a federal judge on Wednesday.
Judge Lewis J. Liman clarified in a written statement in Manhattan the reasons why Lively was not granted the full sum that her legal team claimed had been expended after Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios LLC, lodged their own claims in response to Lively’s lawsuit from December 2024.
Recognizing the intense legal battle between Lively and Baldoni, the judge declined the majority of the legal fees that Lively sought, citing the constraints of a California law meant to safeguard survivors of sexual harassment and discrimination from retaliatory legal actions.
The judge stipulated that the law, aimed at protecting survivors of sexual abuse from lawsuits intended to intimidate and silence victims, only allowed for reimbursement for expenses incurred in defending against defamation claims, rather than covering all claims made by Baldoni against her, as outlined by Liman.
Consequently, the judge determined that Lively is entitled to $363,245 in attorneys’ fees and $44,206 in costs.
Requests for input were directed to representatives of both Baldoni and Lively.
In her lawsuit, Lively alleged instances of sexual harassment, retaliation, breach of contract, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligent infliction of emotional distress, and invasion of privacy.
Baldoni, who directed and starred alongside Lively in the dark romantic drama, refuted allegations of harassment or orchestrating a smear campaign. He contended that the complaints about his conduct were fabricated by Lively in an attempt to seize creative control of the movie.
Following Lively’s legal action, Baldoni and Wayfarer filed counterclaims against Lively and her husband, actor Ryan Reynolds, alleging civil extortion, defamation, invasion of privacy, breach of good faith and fair dealing, and economic interference.
In June 2025, Liman dismissed the counterclaims filed by Baldoni and Wayfarer, and nearly a year later, rejected Lively’s claims of sexual harassment on the basis that she was an independent contractor rather than an employee during her work on the film.
Just before a scheduled trial in early May, Lively and Baldoni reached a settlement, expressing in a joint statement that Lively’s concerns “merited attention” and reaffirming their dedication to fostering workplaces free from improprieties and unproductive atmospheres.
“It Ends With Us,” an adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling 2016 novel centering on a relationship descending into domestic violence, premiered in August 2024 and surpassed box office projections despite facing criticism for allegedly romanticizing abuse. The contentious fallout between Lively and Baldoni overshadowed the film, diverting attention from its message and success.
Lively claimed in her lawsuit that during filming, Baldoni made inappropriate comments about her appearance, violated boundaries during a love scene, and pressured for nudity against her wishes in a scene depicting her character giving birth.
Baldoni refuted allegations of engaging in behavior outside the typical creative process of filmmaking.
Lively’s acting credits include the 2005 film “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” and the TV series “Gossip Girl” from 2007 to 2012, followed by roles in movies such as “The Town” and “The Shallows.”
Baldoni starred in the TV comedy “Jane the Virgin,” directed the 2019 film “Five Feet Apart,” and authored “Man Enough,” a book challenging conventional notions of masculinity.
