In a twist within a heated legal dispute stemming from the movie “It Ends With Us,” Blake Lively has withdrawn two claims against director Justin Baldoni, but the legal saga continues as the court deliberates the matter.
Blake Lively Withdraws Claims Against Justin Baldoni Amid Ongoing Legal Struggle
Blake Lively Withdraws Claims Against Justin Baldoni Amid Ongoing Legal Struggle
Blake Lively attempts to drop emotional distress claims in legal battle with director Justin Baldoni.
Blake Lively, known for her versatile acting and recent role in the film “It Ends With Us,” has reportedly moved to withdraw two claims against director Justin Baldoni amid ongoing legal conflicts following the film’s release last summer. The actress initially filed a lawsuit in December 2024, accusing Baldoni of sexual harassment and conducting a smear campaign against her.
As part of the proceedings, Baldoni's legal team sought Lively's medical records, which included therapy notes to support their defense against her allegations of "severe emotional distress." This development has placed Lively in a position where she aims to drop claims of intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress. However, the court must still decide whether to dismiss these claims or require Lively to release her mental health information.
Documents observed by Variety from Baldoni's legal team confirmed the withdrawal of these claims, indicating that Lively's counsel informed them of her decision in writing. Their filing disclosed that Lively declined their request for a “with prejudice” withdrawal, potentially allowing her to refile the claims in the future. In contrast, Lively's attorneys characterized Baldoni's actions as a "press stunt," insisting that focusing her case was a strategic move amid complications from Baldoni's counterclaims of civil extortion, defamation, and invasion of privacy against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds.
Despite Lively retracting certain claims, her legal representatives affirmed that she continues to allege emotional distress in conjunction with ongoing claims of sexual harassment and retaliation, aiming for substantial compensatory damages.
The courtroom drama extends beyond Lively and Baldoni's clash, as Taylor Swift was recently drawn into this controversy when alleged pressure was brought on Baldoni concerning script rewrites. However, Swift's representatives discredited such claims, asserting that she had no hand in the film's creative decisions. After pushback from her legal team regarding the validity of the subpoena, it was retracted shortly after being issued.
As this situation remains fluid, all parties involved await the court’s decision while signaling further developments in the months to come regarding this high-profile legal battle.
As part of the proceedings, Baldoni's legal team sought Lively's medical records, which included therapy notes to support their defense against her allegations of "severe emotional distress." This development has placed Lively in a position where she aims to drop claims of intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress. However, the court must still decide whether to dismiss these claims or require Lively to release her mental health information.
Documents observed by Variety from Baldoni's legal team confirmed the withdrawal of these claims, indicating that Lively's counsel informed them of her decision in writing. Their filing disclosed that Lively declined their request for a “with prejudice” withdrawal, potentially allowing her to refile the claims in the future. In contrast, Lively's attorneys characterized Baldoni's actions as a "press stunt," insisting that focusing her case was a strategic move amid complications from Baldoni's counterclaims of civil extortion, defamation, and invasion of privacy against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds.
Despite Lively retracting certain claims, her legal representatives affirmed that she continues to allege emotional distress in conjunction with ongoing claims of sexual harassment and retaliation, aiming for substantial compensatory damages.
The courtroom drama extends beyond Lively and Baldoni's clash, as Taylor Swift was recently drawn into this controversy when alleged pressure was brought on Baldoni concerning script rewrites. However, Swift's representatives discredited such claims, asserting that she had no hand in the film's creative decisions. After pushback from her legal team regarding the validity of the subpoena, it was retracted shortly after being issued.
As this situation remains fluid, all parties involved await the court’s decision while signaling further developments in the months to come regarding this high-profile legal battle.
