Blake Lively Narrows Legal Claims in Lawsuit Against Director Justin Baldoni
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In the latest update from the high-profile legal battle between Blake Lively and director Justin Baldoni, the Gossip Girl star has moved to drop two significant claims from her December 2024 lawsuit. The Blake Lively lawsuit against Justin Baldoni initially included multiple accusations, among them sexual harassment, emotional distress, and a smear campaign linked to their collaboration on the film It Ends With Us.
According to recently filed court documents, Lively is seeking to withdraw her claims of intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligent infliction of emotional distress. These developments come after Baldoni’s legal team demanded access to Lively’s private medical and therapy records, citing the need to defend against claims of “severe emotional distress, humiliation, and embarrassment.”
Legal Tug-of-War Over Emotional Claims
The defense argued that Lively’s medical history was crucial to refute her emotional damage allegations. However, her attorneys declined to release the records, citing privacy concerns, and instead chose to streamline her case by removing the emotional distress claims. Importantly, Lively’s team is not dropping all emotional harm accusations; they continue to allege emotional distress as part of broader claims related to sexual harassment and retaliation.
In a statement provided to Variety, Lively’s legal representatives described Baldoni’s move to publicize the document filings as a “press stunt,” and emphasized that their strategy aims to refocus the case on more substantial claims. They accused Baldoni’s legal approach of triggering new liability under California law, leading Lively to adapt her strategy accordingly.
Claims Could Be Refiled
Although Lively is withdrawing these emotional distress claims, Baldoni’s legal team expressed concern that the dismissal may not be permanent. They requested the claims be withdrawn “with prejudice,” which would prevent them from being refiled in the future — a request that Lively’s side has so far declined.
This leaves the door open for potential re-litigation of these specific allegations, depending on how the case unfolds.
A Broader Legal Storm
The legal war between the two stars has continued to intensify. In January 2025, Baldoni launched a countersuit against Lively and her husband, actor Ryan Reynolds, accusing the couple of civil extortion, defamation, and invasion of privacy. These counterclaims marked a turning point in what has become one of Hollywood’s most publicized legal feuds.
At the center of the original lawsuit is It Ends With Us, a film adaptation of the bestselling novel by Colleen Hoover. Blake Lively starred as Lily Bloom, a woman navigating the trauma of domestic abuse — a performance now overshadowed by the escalating off-screen drama.
Taylor Swift Briefly Dragged into Legal Battle
Pop icon Taylor Swift was also briefly entangled in the legal conflict earlier this year. Lively’s legal team subpoenaed Swift, suggesting she may have influenced creative decisions during production. However, Swift’s representatives swiftly shut down the speculation, stating she had no involvement in casting or script development. The subpoena was later dropped after Swift’s lawyers argued it was nothing more than an “unwarranted fishing expedition.”
What Happens Next?
As the court evaluates whether to formally dismiss the dropped claims or compel Lively to disclose her mental health records, the remaining charges — particularly those involving sexual harassment and retaliation — continue to pose serious challenges for Baldoni.
The next few months will likely be pivotal in determining how this legal showdown unfolds. Regardless of the outcome, the Blake Lively lawsuit against Justin Baldoni has already made waves across Hollywood and sparked important conversations around power dynamics, privacy, and accountability in the film industry.
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