Blake Lively has been awarded a sum slightly over $400,000 out of the $8 million she had originally requested in legal fees from actor and director Justin Baldoni following their settlement regarding their 2024 film “It Ends With Us,” as per a federal judge’s ruling on Wednesday. Judge Lewis J. Liman, in Manhattan, detailed the reasons why Lively did not qualify for the full amount her legal team claimed she had spent after Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios LLC, responded to her lawsuit from December 2024.
Despite acknowledging the intense legal battle between Lively and Baldoni, the judge limited the legal fees Lively could recover, citing a California law aimed at safeguarding survivors of sexual harassment and discrimination from retaliatory legal actions. The judge concluded that Lively could only be reimbursed for the expenses incurred in defending against defamation claims rather than all the claims made by Baldoni. Consequently, Lively is set to receive $363,245 in attorneys’ fees and $44,206 in costs.
Efforts to obtain comments from both Baldoni and Lively’s representatives have been made.
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 directed and co-starred in the film with Lively, refuted the accusations of harassment and a smear campaign, contending that Lively fabricated the complaints to wrest control of the movie.
Following Lively’s legal action, Baldoni and Wayfarer filed a countersuit against Lively and her husband, actor Ryan Reynolds, alleging civil extortion, defamation, invasion of privacy, breach of good faith, fair dealing, and economic interference. The countersuit was dismissed by Liman in June 2025, and nearly a year later, Lively’s sexual harassment claims were rejected as she was deemed an independent contractor rather than an employee during the film’s production.
Prior to a scheduled trial, Lively and Baldoni reached a settlement in early May, expressing in a joint statement their commitment to fostering workplaces free of improprieties.
The film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s novel “It Ends With Us” was released in August 2024 and surpassed box office projections, despite facing criticism for its portrayal of abuse. The discord between Lively and Baldoni diverted attention from the film, overshadowing its message and success.
Lively contended in her lawsuit that Baldoni had made inappropriate remarks about her appearance, violated boundaries during a love scene, and pressured for nudity against her wishes during a childbirth scene.
Baldoni denied any actions beyond the standard creative process of filmmaking. Lively’s acting credits include “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” (2005) and the TV series “Gossip Girl” (2007-2012), while Baldoni starred in “Jane the Virgin,” directed “Five Feet Apart” (2019), and authored “Man Enough,” a book challenging conventional masculinity notions.