Blake Lively Calls Settlement With Justin Baldoni a “Victory” After Legal Battle Over It Ends With Us

Blake Lively has spoken publicly after reaching a legal settlement with actor and director Justin Baldoni over disputes connected to the 2024 film It Ends With Us.

In a statement shared with Entertainment Weekly on May 7, Lively’s lawyers, Michael Gottlieb and Esra Hudson, called the settlement a “victory” for the actress. They said Baldoni and the other defendants agreed not to appeal the case and acknowledged that Lively’s concerns “deserved to be heard.”

The legal dispute began in December 2024 when Lively accused Baldoni, her co-star and director in It Ends With Us, of sexual harassment and retaliation. She also claimed there had been a smear campaign against her after she raised concerns. Baldoni denied the allegations.

Some of Lively’s original claims, including sexual harassment, defamation, and conspiracy, were dismissed by a judge in April. However, other claims related to retaliation and workplace violations under California law remained active.

In January 2025, Baldoni filed a countersuit against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and their public relations team. He accused them of defamation and harming his company, Wayfarer Studios. That lawsuit was dismissed by a judge in June.

Both sides reached a settlement on May 4, shortly before the trial was scheduled to begin.

In a joint statement, Lively and Wayfarer Studios said they were proud of the film and its message about domestic violence awareness. The statement also said the legal process had been difficult and recognized that Lively’s concerns should have been heard.

The statement added that everyone involved hopes the settlement will allow them to move forward peacefully and encourage respectful behavior online.