Justin Baldoni, the renowned actor and director, is making headlines as he seeks to dismiss the legal case brought against him by fellow actress Blake Lively. The ongoing legal battle between the two celebrities has taken a new turn, with Baldoni filing a motion for summary judgment in an attempt to have Lively’s allegations thrown out. The court filing, spanning 73 pages, obtained by PEOPLE, outlines Baldoni’s argument that “no reasonable juror” would find him guilty of the accusations levelled against him.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/justin-baldoni-blake-lively-111325-1-9f2daacd7e444fc1952dd2e3b8334eec.jpg)
In the motion filed before U.S. District Court Judge Lewis J. Liman, Baldoni and his legal team, including Wayfarer Studios, It Ends with Us producer Jamey Heath, and others, lay out their case for dismissing Lively’s lawsuit without going to trial. The legal dispute between Lively and Baldoni dates back to December 2024, when Lively sued Baldoni for misconduct on the set of It Ends with Us, a film he directed, and alleged a retaliatory smear campaign against her. Baldoni has vehemently denied all the allegations made against him by Lively.
The court documents obtained by PEOPLE reveal Baldoni’s lawyers arguing that the comments and incidents cited by Lively do not amount to sexual harassment when viewed in context. They also contest Lively’s claims of suffering adverse employment actions due to the alleged misconduct. The legal wrangling intensified when Lively detailed in her filing instances of retaliation and negative campaigns orchestrated against her, allegedly by Baldoni and others named in the lawsuit.
Recent developments in the legal saga saw a federal judge dismissing Lively’s claims against a Texas-based social media consultant accused of involvement in the smear campaign. While this dismissal marked a setback for Lively, it also led to the dismissal of all countersuits against her. A spokesperson for Lively expressed satisfaction with the rulings, noting that Lively’s claims would be addressed at the scheduled trial in New York.
In a surprising twist, it was revealed that Lively is seeking over $160 million in damages as part of the ongoing legal battle with Baldoni. This staggering amount includes compensation for lost earnings, reputational harm, and emotional distress, among other claims. The unsealed court filing shed light on the financial implications of the dispute between the two Hollywood stars, hinting at a protracted and high-stakes legal showdown ahead.
The lawsuit between Lively and Baldoni has captured the attention of not just entertainment enthusiasts but also legal observers, given the high-profile nature of the case. As the legal drama unfolds, the public awaits the forthcoming trial in March 2026, where the claims and counterclaims between the two celebrities will be laid bare for adjudication. The saga serves as a reminder of the complexities and challenges that can arise within the glitzy world of show business, where fame and fortune often collide with legal battles and personal disputes.
The intricacies of the legal arguments put forth by both parties will be scrutinized as the case proceeds through the judicial system. Baldoni’s bold move to seek summary judgment reflects his confidence in refuting the allegations levelled against him by Lively, underscoring the high stakes involved in the legal showdown between the two Hollywood personalities. As the legal battle continues to unfold, the public remains captivated by the unfolding drama between Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively, eagerly awaiting the resolution of their contentious legal dispute.