The It Ends With Us legal battle may be drawing to a close, at least for now.
Earlier this month, Blake Lively withdrew two of her claims against Justin Baldoni, those of intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligent infliction of emotional distress. These two claims were a part of her larger legal case against Baldoni, alleging he and James Heath of Wayfarer Studios had sexually harassed her and launched a smear campaign against her in the press.
The withdrawal of the emotional distress claims came after Baldoni’s legal team sought the release of Lively’s medical and therapy records.
Now, there comes an update regarding Baldoni’s defamation and extortion countersuit against Lively and Ryan Reynolds, as well as his libel lawsuit against The New York Times. Presiding over the case, Judge Liman has granted the motion to dismiss the actor’s $400 million USD lawsuit against the actress and her husband and his $250 million USD lawsuit against The New York Times.
Liman wrote that Baldoni and his production company have not shown that Lively has made “any statements other than those in her complaint, which are privileged.” On the extortion claims, he stated that Baldoni’s team had failed to prove that Lively’s actions during filming were anything other than “hard bargaining or renegotiation of working conditions.”
Baldoni’s legal team now has until June 23 to amend their claims and resubmit, which his lawyers have made clear they will be doing. Meanwhile, Lively’s lawyers have celebrated the Judge’s decision, stating it is a “total victory and a complete vindication.”
“As we have said from day one, this $400 million lawsuit was a sham, and the Court saw right through it.”
These updates come almost a year after feud rumours began surrounding the release of It Ends With Us in August 2024. The long battle of suits, countersuits, and even the involvement of names like Taylor Swift doesn’t seem to have an end in sight. And of course, even once legal proceedings come to an end, the court of public opinion will stay long open.
