A federal judge has dismissed most of Blake Lively’s sexual harassment lawsuit against her It Ends With Us co-star Justin Baldoni, dramatically shrinking one of Hollywood’s most talked about legal battles.
In a ruling issued by Lewis Liman, the court dismissed 10 out of 13 claims brought by the actress.
The dismissed claims included sexual harassment, defamation, and conspiracy allegations.
However, three claims will still move forward toward trial, including allegations tied to retaliation and contract disputes.
The lawsuit stems from tensions that reportedly developed during production of the 2024 film It Ends With Us, where Lively starred and Baldoni served as both director and co-lead actor.
Lively alleged Baldoni made inappropriate comments about her appearance and weight during filming.
But the judge ruled she could not pursue federal sexual harassment claims because she worked as an independent contractor rather than an employee.
The court also rejected claims under California law because filming took place in New Jersey, creating a jurisdiction issue that weakened parts of her case.
Still alive in court are claims tied to alleged retaliation.
Lively has argued Baldoni and his associates attempted to damage her reputation through negative publicity after disputes on set. Her legal team says those claims will now be decided by a jury.
Attorneys representing Baldoni called the ruling a major victory, saying the most serious allegations were dismissed after review of evidence and legal standards.
They say the remaining case is now much narrower.
Lively’s attorneys pushed back, arguing the core issue was never just harassment but what they describe as a coordinated effort to damage her career after she raised safety concerns.
They say the upcoming trial will focus on whether retaliation occurred.
The off screen conflict has followed the film since its release.
Despite earning about $350 million globally, the movie’s success was overshadowed by reports of conflict between its stars and the ongoing legal dispute.
The case has also pulled in other high profile names, including Taylor Swift, whose name surfaced in private messages connected to the dispute.
Swift’s legal team has reportedly tried to distance her from the case.
A trial is currently expected to begin in May unless a settlement is reached before then. For now, what started as a sweeping harassment lawsuit is heading toward court as a much tighter legal fight focused mainly on retaliation claims.