Blake Lively has been awarded a sum slightly exceeding $400,000 out of the $8 million she originally sought in legal fees from Justin Baldoni, the actor and director, following the resolution of their dispute over the 2024 film they collaborated on, “It Ends With Us.” This ruling was made by a federal judge on Wednesday.
In a written decision, Judge Lewis J. Liman in Manhattan detailed why Lively did not receive the full amount requested by her legal team, explaining that Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios LLC, had filed counterclaims in response to Lively’s lawsuit in December 2024.
Despite acknowledging the intense legal battle between Lively and Baldoni, the judge limited the legal fees due to Lively, citing California legislation aimed at safeguarding survivors of sexual harassment and discrimination from retaliatory legal actions. Liman clarified that Lively could only be reimbursed for expenses related to defending against defamation claims rather than all of Baldoni’s claims against her.
Consequently, the judge decreed that Lively is entitled to $363,245 in attorneys’ fees and $44,206 in costs. Requests for comments from Baldoni and Lively’s representatives were made but remained unanswered.
In her lawsuit, Lively alleged instances of sexual harassment, retaliation, breach of contract, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligent infliction of emotional distress, and invasion of privacy. Baldoni, who both directed and acted alongside Lively in the film, denied the allegations of harassment and smear campaigns, asserting that Lively fabricated the complaints to seize creative control of the project.
Following Lively’s legal action, Baldoni and Wayfarer initiated a countersuit against Lively and her spouse, Ryan Reynolds, alleging civil extortion, defamation, invasion of privacy, breach of good faith and fair dealing, and economic interference. However, Liman dismissed this countersuit in June 2025 and later rejected Lively’s sexual harassment claims, determining that she was an independent contractor, not an employee, during the film production.
Prior to a scheduled trial in early May, Lively and Baldoni reached a settlement, affirming in a joint statement their commitment to fostering work environments free of improprieties and unproductive atmospheres. “It Ends With Us,” based on Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel depicting a deteriorating relationship plagued by domestic violence, was released in August 2024. Despite exceeding box office expectations, the film attracted criticism for allegedly romanticizing abuse. The discord between Lively and Baldoni diverted attention from the film, overshadowing its message and success.
Lively’s lawsuit highlighted instances where Baldoni purportedly made inappropriate remarks about her appearance, violated boundaries during intimate scenes, and pressured for nudity against her wishes. Baldoni defended his actions as part of the ordinary creative process of filmmaking.
Blake Lively is known for her roles in “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” (2005) and the TV series “Gossip Girl” (2007-2012), in addition to movies like “The Town” and “The Shallows.” On the other hand, Justin Baldoni starred in the TV show “Jane the Virgin,” directed “Five Feet Apart” in 2019, and authored “Man Enough,” a book challenging conventional masculinity norms.