Blake Lively Seeks Millions After Legal Settlement With Justin Baldoni

Blake Lively has taken an assertive step following her settlement with “It Ends With Us” co-star Justin Baldoni by requesting a federal judge to award her tens of millions of dollars. Lively’s legal team filed a new document arguing that Baldoni’s dismissed $400 million defamation lawsuit was baseless and retaliatory.

The 38-year-old actress claimed that Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios, and others used the countersuit to punish her for raising allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct. Lively is seeking significant financial compensation, which includes attorneys’ fees, triple damages for harm, and punitive damages to penalize what her attorneys call an abuse of the legal process.

The legal action highlights an intensification in an already contentious dispute as Lively aims to hold the opposing parties financially accountable. Representatives for Lively stated, “This settlement is a resounding victory for Blake Lively. By agreeing to this settlement and waiving their right to appeal, Justin Baldoni and all individual defendants now face personal liability for abusing the legal system to silence and intimidate Ms. Lively.”

The statement further asserted that the defendants’ acknowledgment that Lively’s concerns “deserved to be heard” effectively refutes any claims of fabrication regarding sexual harassment and retaliation. Lively aimed from the beginning to expose and hold responsible those who misuse smear campaigns and retaliatory lawsuits.

On the other hand, Justin Baldoni and the Wayfarer parties pushed back, describing the legal resolution as a victory for their side. Bryan Freedman told Fox News Digital, “Let’s be clear, this is a win and total victory for the Wayfarer parties. The court had already dismissed 10 of Ms. Lively’s 13 claims, including every sexual harassment claim, every defamation claim, and all claims against the individual defendants. Ms. Lively voluntarily dismissed the rest.”

Lively and Baldoni had been locked in a long legal battle that began after the filming of the movie “It Ends With Us,” following Lively’s accusations of sexual harassment on set, which led to her lawsuit against Baldoni in December 2024. Although Baldoni countered Lively’s claims with his massive defamation suit, the judge dismissed his case in June 2025.

While the court proceedings allowed Lively’s retaliation claims to advance, Judge Lewis J. Liman narrowed the case by dismissing most of her allegations, including sexual harassment and defamation, focusing only on retaliation and breach of contract claims before the trial.

The mutually agreed settlement, filed on Thursday, indicates both parties have reached a final resolution, preventing the same allegations from being revisited in the court. The intense legal exchanges underscore a dramatic phase post-filming the movie adaptation, “It Ends With Us.”