In a ruling issued on Thursday, Judge Lewis Liman dismissed 10 of the 13 claims in Lively's lawsuit, including those for harassment, defamation, and conspiracy. He allowed three claims to proceed to trial, including breach of contract, retaliation, and aiding and abetting retaliation.
Lively, who plays the female lead in the film, accused Baldoni, the director and co-star, of sexually harassing her on set by making unwanted comments about her appearance and weight.
Liman ruled that Lively cannot bring a sexual harassment claim under federal law because she is an independent contractor. He also ruled that she cannot bring a harassment claim under California law because the filming took place in New Jersey.
She also alleged that Baldoni hired an "army of publicists" to retaliate against her by spreading and amplifying negative stories online. The judge ruled that two retaliation claims deserve to be presented to a jury.
"We are very pleased that the court dismissed all sexual harassment claims and every claim against the individual defendants. These were very serious allegations, and we are grateful to the court for its careful review of the facts, the law, and the extensive evidence submitted. What remains is a significantly narrowed case, and we look forward to presenting our defense against the remaining claims in court," said attorneys Alexandria Shapiro and Jonathan Bach, who represent Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios, and their publicists.
Sigrid McCawley, a member of Lively's legal team, noted that the jury will have the final say on whether Lively was a victim of retaliation.
"This case has always been and will remain focused on the devastating retaliation and extraordinary steps the defendants took to destroy Blake Lively's reputation because she stood up for safety on set, and that is the case going to trial. The actress looks forward to testifying and continuing to shed light on this vicious form of online retaliation," McCawley said.
Baldoni and his attorneys argued that Lively used exaggerated allegations of misconduct to seize control of the film and then cast Baldoni as the villain.
Baldoni's team claimed that Lively's allegations about on-set behavior were nothing more than minor complaints and that he had the right to defend himself against what he saw as false accusations.
"It Ends With Us" earned $350 million worldwide, making it an extraordinary hit in 2024. However, the film's release was overshadowed by persistent rumors of a rift between the two lead actors, leading to over a year of messy litigation.
"It's all a damn disaster. It doesn't even matter who's right or wrong. The chaos is now the story and will define the film. No one can watch the film the same way. Tragic," wrote Tom Rothman, chairman of the Motion Picture Group at Sony Pictures Entertainment, in an email in August 2024.
The trial is scheduled for May. Baldoni and Lively attended a mediation session with a judge in February, but it did not result in a settlement. Several high-profile names have been drawn into the fight, most notably Taylor Swift, whose lawyers attempted to prevent her involvement.