Blake Lively seeks her day in court as Justin Baldoni moves to dismiss lawsuit.
A recent legal development has emerged in the ongoing lawsuit involving actress Blake Lively and her co-star in “It Ends With Us,” Justin Baldoni. Lively’s latest filing urges a New York judge to continue with the trial scheduled for March 2026, asserting that Baldoni’s actions must be held accountable regarding the serious allegations of sexual harassment and a retaliatory smear campaign against her.
The intricacies of the case underscore concerns Lively has raised regarding the oppressive working conditions on the film’s set. The application contends that Baldoni, alongside associates from Wayfarer Studios, not only ignored complaints about the environment but also reacted aggressively, suggesting that Lively fabricated her grievances in an effort to seize control of the project. This filing highlights a pattern of behavior that, according to Lively, warrants judicial scrutiny to prevent any further evasion of responsibility by Baldoni and his team.
The requests from Lively’s legal team are accentuated by the film’s performance at the box office, which defied expectations by accumulating 8.5 million domestically and a global total of 1 million. Such financial success, juxtaposed against Lively’s allegations, presents a stark irony for the defendants, who are accused of profiting significantly while fostering a toxic atmosphere on set.
This latest court filing comes nearly a year after Lively initially voiced her concerns through a civil rights complaint in December 2024. Shortly thereafter, she formalized her claims in a lawsuit format, amplifying the urgency and gravity of the situation. Baldoni has consistently denied the allegations and, in January, initiated a 0 million libel lawsuit against The New York Times, targeting its reporting on the accusations, in addition to a 0 million defamation action against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and publicist Leslie Sloane.
Most recently, Baldoni’s legal challenges were met with setbacks, as his suits were dismissed in late October. Following this, Baldoni’s attorneys filed for summary judgment, aiming to achieve a similar outcome for Lively’s case, labeling her claims as a collection of minor grievances that lack substantial evidence of harassment. The defense has emphasized that Baldoni’s engagement with a crisis public relations team was a standard and responsible measure in light of the allegations against him, rather than a reflection of any underlying culpability.
As the trial date approaches, the dynamics of this high-profile case continue to develop, drawing heightened media attention and public interest in the broader implications of workplace conduct and accountability in the entertainment industry.
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