Blake Lively will receive approximately $400,000 out of the $8 million she initially sought in legal fees from actor and director Justin Baldoni following the settlement of their dispute over the production of their 2024 film “It Ends With Us,” as decided by a federal judge on Wednesday.
Judge Lewis J. Liman outlined in a written ruling in Manhattan the reasons why Lively was not granted the full amount claimed by her legal team after Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios LLC, brought forward their own claims in response to Lively’s lawsuit from December 2024.
Recognizing the intense legal battle between Lively and Baldoni, the judge discounted the majority of the legal fees requested by Lively, citing the constraints of a California law aimed at safeguarding survivors of sexual harassment and discrimination from retaliatory legal actions.
The judge clarified that under the protective law for victims of sexual abuse, Lively could only be reimbursed for the expenses incurred in defending against defamation allegations rather than all claims raised by Baldoni. Consequently, the judge determined that Lively is entitled to $363,245 in attorneys’ fees and $44,206 in costs.
Requests for comments were directed to representatives of both Baldoni and Lively.
In her legal complaint, 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 directed the film and co-starred with Lively, refuted the accusations of harassment and orchestrating a smear campaign. He contended that the allegations against him were fabricated by Lively to gain control over the movie’s creative direction.
Following Lively’s lawsuit, Baldoni and Wayfarer filed a countersuit against Lively and her spouse, actor Ryan Reynolds, accusing them of civil extortion, defamation, invasion of privacy, breach of good faith and fair dealing, and economic interference. However, Liman dismissed the countersuit in June 2025 and later rejected Lively’s sexual harassment claims on the basis that she was an independent contractor rather than an employee during the film production.
Shortly before a scheduled trial in early May, Lively and Baldoni reached a settlement, expressing in a joint statement that Lively’s concerns deserved attention and reaffirming their commitment to creating work environments free of misconduct and unproductive atmospheres.
The film “It Ends With Us,” adapted from Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel depicting a deteriorating relationship leading to domestic violence, was released in August 2024 and surpassed box office predictions despite facing criticism for romanticizing abuse. The contentious fallout between Lively and Baldoni overshadowed the film’s message and success.
Lively alleged in her lawsuit that Baldoni made inappropriate remarks about her appearance, violated personal boundaries during a love scene, and pressured for nudity in a birthing scene against her wishes.
Baldoni denied engaging in any conduct beyond the typical creative process involved in filmmaking.
Lively has appeared in various films and television shows, including “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” in 2005 and the series “Gossip Girl” from 2007 to 2012, as well as starring in movies such as “The Town” and “The Shallows.”
Baldoni is known for his role in the TV series “Jane the Virgin,” directing the 2019 film “Five Feet Apart,” and writing “Man Enough,” a book challenging conventional notions of masculinity.