Get up to speed with major developments in the Blake Lively vs Justin Baldoni case, including key events and the latest updates
Last update: 21 April 2026
The legal dispute between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni continues to evolve into one of Hollywood’s most closely watched cases, with Ryan Reynolds also drawn into the fallout. It centres on allegations of misconduct during the production of It Ends With Us, in which Lively accused Baldoni of sexual harassment, defamation, and conspiracy.
Latest Developments
April 2026 to present
- Ryan Reynolds becomes widely discussed in public commentary
- Both Baldoni and Lively remain locked in disputes over financial disclosure
- The case nears the official trial date and online commentary begins to intensify
Early 2026
- Both parties continue to dispute financial evidence amid disagreements over the loss of earnings
- The focus moves toward retaliation and breach of contract
- A judge dismisses claims/narrows several of Lively’s claims, including sexual harassment and defamation
Mid to Late 2025
- Baldoni’s countersuit is dismissed
- Several of Lively’s allegations are thrown out during pre-trial motions
Early 2025
- The story becomes public, and media outlets begin to probe events further
- Teams of both sides exchange legal filings and supporting evidence
- Baldoni files a countersuit for defamation, reported to be around $400 million
Late 2024
- The allegations become public
- Baldoni disputes Lively’s claims and responds with a case of his own
- Lively formally files several allegations against Baldoni, which include sexual harassment, defamation, and conspiracy
Early 2024
- Internet chatter begins to swirl, with social media users attempting to fill in the blanks
- Unverified reports begin to circulate in the media of behind-the-scenes disagreements, largely involving creative control and marketing.
- Rumours of tensions begin to emerge between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni during both production and the promotion of It Ends With Us
Latest Developments
Background
Following the release of It Ends With Us, fans noted that Baldoni kept his distance from Lively at the film’s premiere. Commentators attributed this to the actress promoting her personal brand during the promotional tour, which many deemed inappropriate given the movie’s context.
Following the backlash, Lively accused Baldoni of sexual harassment, cultivating a hostile working environment, and retaliation when she aired her grievances. However, the actor responded by publishing materials to dispute her claims, leading to greater public support for him and increased public disapproval of Lively.
Public Response
Social media has, of course, chipped in with its opinions, with some calling it a win for the director: “Hopefully this means never hearing about either of them ever again”. Others were incredibly supportive of Baldoni: “I will be supporting Justin in all his endeavors going forward. Justin and his production company were cruelly and unfairly maligned by Blake with her lies and false allegations.” While another added: “Blake Lively defenders live in a different reality.” However, in stark contrast, public support online for Lively is near to nonexistent, suggesting that regardless of the case’s outcome, she may struggle to recover.
Speculation
Elsewhere, speculation regarding Ryan Reynolds’ inclusion of the character “Nicepool” in his film Deadpool & Wolverine has become a topic of discussion, although there is no reference to it in court filings.
Baldoni also launched a website containing footage from the set of It Ends With Us, showing Baldoni and Lively in character. The site was later taken down.
Baldoni and Lively’s Response
In a statement, Lively’s legal team said: “One year ago, Blake Lively filed a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department to advocate for a safe workplace following experiences she and others had while working on the film It Ends With Us.”
“Over the past year, Blake has persevered against a billionaire-financed attempt to bury her, her family, and her businesses through retaliatory lawsuits and an aggressive media and digital campaign.”
“With their lawsuits thrown out and her claims set for trial in May, Ms. Lively is more determined than ever to expose the systems that operate behind the scenes to silence and discredit women who speak up.”
Baldoni’s attorneys responded to the decision in a statement: “We’re very pleased the Court dismissed all sexual harassment claims and every claim brought against the individual defendants: Justin Baldoni.”
The Legal Case
Most of Blake Lively’s claims, including sexual harassment, were dismissed on legal grounds, largely because she was considered an independent contractor rather than an employee under the statutes she cited. The case now rests on three main accusations: breach of contract, retaliation, and aiding and abetting retaliation. Lively alleges he initiated a smear campaign against her, which she believes damaged her reputation and potential earnings.
Baldoni had also filed a $400 million defamation lawsuit against Lively, which was dismissed. Following a failed mediation, the trial will begin in May and is expected to draw significant public and media attention.
References: CourtListener – Lively v. Wayfarer Studios LLC et al. (Federal Court Docket): PACER – United States Federal Court Records (official system of record).
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