Blake Lively is set to receive a little over $400,000 out of the $8 million she initially requested in legal expenses from actor and director Justin Baldoni following their resolution of disputes over their 2024 film “It Ends With Us,” as per a federal judge’s ruling on Wednesday.
Judge Lewis J. Liman, in a written decision in Manhattan, outlined why Lively was not granted the full amount her legal team claimed was spent, after Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios LLC, filed counterclaims in response to Lively’s lawsuit from December 2024.
Acknowledging the intense legal battle between Lively and Baldoni, the judge declined most of the legal fees Lively sought, citing the constraints of a California law aimed at safeguarding survivors of sexual harassment and discrimination from retaliatory legal actions.
The judge clarified that the law was meant to protect survivors from legal actions meant to intimidate and silence victims, allowing Lively to only seek reimbursement for costs incurred in defending against defamation claims rather than all of Baldoni’s claims against her.
Consequently, the judge ruled that Lively is entitled to $363,245 in attorneys’ fees and $44,206 in costs.
Requests for comments were sent to representatives of both Baldoni and Lively.
In her lawsuit, Lively alleged sexual harassment, retaliation, breach of contract, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligent infliction of emotional distress, and invasion of privacy.
Baldoni, who directed and starred alongside Lively in the film, denied the allegations of harassment or orchestrating a smear campaign. He contended that Lively’s complaints were fabricated to seize creative control of the movie.
Following Lively’s lawsuit, Baldoni and Wayfarer counter-sued Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds of “Deadpool,” alleging civil extortion, defamation, invasion of privacy, breach of good faith, fair dealing, and economic interference.
In June 2025, Liman dismissed the countersuit filed by Baldoni and Wayfarer, and nearly a year later, rejected Lively’s sexual harassment claims on the basis that she was an independent contractor, not an employee, during her work on the film.
Just 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 their commitment to fostering workplaces free of improprieties and unproductive environments remains steadfast.
“It Ends With Us,” an adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel depicting a relationship descending into domestic violence, was released in August 2024 and surpassed box office projections despite facing criticism for potentially glorifying abuse. The fallout between Lively and Baldoni overshadowed the film’s message and success.
During filming, Lively accused Baldoni of making inappropriate remarks about her appearance, violating physical boundaries during a love scene, and pressuring nudity against her wishes in a scene where her character was giving birth.
Baldoni refuted any wrongdoing beyond the normal creative process of filmmaking.
Lively’s previous works include the 2005 film “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” and the TV series “Gossip Girl” from 2007 to 2012, followed by appearances in films like “The Town” and “The Shallows.” Baldoni starred in the TV comedy “Jane the Virgin,” directed the 2019 film “Five Feet Apart,” and authored “Man Enough,” a book challenging conventional ideas of masculinity.