Blake Lively is set to receive a little over $400,000 out of the $8 million she initially sought in legal fees from actor and director Justin Baldoni following the resolution of their dispute over their 2024 film “It Ends With Us,” as ruled by a federal judge on Wednesday.
Judge Lewis J. Liman, in a written decision in Manhattan, detailed why Lively was not granted the full amount her legal team claimed to have spent after Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios LLC, filed counterclaims in response to Lively’s lawsuit from December 2024.
Recognizing the intense legal battle between Lively and Baldoni, the judge declined the majority of the legal fees Lively requested, citing the constraints of a California law aimed at safeguarding survivors of sexual harassment and discrimination from retaliatory legal actions.
The judge determined that under the protective law for survivors of sexual abuse, Lively could only be reimbursed for expenses incurred in defending against defamation claims rather than all of Baldoni’s claims. Consequently, Lively has been awarded $363,245 in attorneys’ fees and $44,206 in costs.
Requests for comments were sent to representatives of Baldoni and Lively.
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 starred alongside Lively in the dark romantic drama, denied the allegations of harassment or orchestrating a smear campaign. He contended that Lively fabricated the complaints against him in an attempt to seize control of the film creatively.
Shortly after Lively filed her lawsuit, Baldoni and Wayfarer lodged counterclaims against Lively and her husband, actor Ryan Reynolds, including civil extortion, defamation, invasion of privacy, breach of good faith and fair dealing, and economic interference.
In June 2025, Liman dismissed the countersuit brought by Baldoni and Wayfarer and almost a year later rejected Lively’s sexual harassment claims, determining that she was an independent contractor rather than an employee during her involvement in the film.
Prior to a scheduled trial in early May, Lively and Baldoni reached a settlement, expressing in a joint statement that Lively’s concerns deserved attention and reaffirming their commitment to fostering workplaces free of misconduct and unproductive environments.
The film “It Ends With Us,” based on Colleen Hoover’s bestselling 2016 novel depicting a relationship descending into domestic violence, premiered in August 2024 and surpassed box office forecasts despite facing criticism for glorifying abuse. However, the discord between Lively and Baldoni diverted attention from the film, overshadowing its message and success.
Lively’s lawsuit alleged that during filming, Baldoni made inappropriate remarks about her appearance, crossed physical boundaries while shooting a love scene, and pressured for nudity against her wishes during a scene depicting her character giving birth.
Baldoni refuted engaging in any activities beyond the typical creative process of filmmaking.
Lively has appeared in various productions, including the 2005 film “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” and the TV series “Gossip Girl” from 2007 to 2012, followed by roles in movies such as “The Town” and “The Shallows.”
Baldoni has starred in the TV show “Jane the Virgin,” directed the 2019 film “Five Feet Apart,” and authored “Man Enough,” a book challenging conventional ideas of masculinity.