Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni were unable to reach an agreement following a six-hour mediation session on Wednesday in their ongoing legal dispute. The settlement conference, held in federal court in New York, concerned Lively’s sexual harassment lawsuit against Baldoni, her co-star from It Ends With Us. Despite efforts to resolve the matter outside of court, no settlement was achieved, prolonging the dispute between the two actors.
Justin Baldoni’s Separate Court Appearance Over Publicist Lawsuit
On Thursday, Justin Baldoni appeared in a different New York federal court case involving a lawsuit with his former publicist, Stephanie Jones. Baldoni, 42, attended the mandatory settlement conference accompanied by his wife, Emily. Blake Lively, 38, is not involved in this lawsuit and did not attend the hearing. The conflict began when Jones sued Baldoni and his crisis communications team in December 2024, accusing them of breach of contract and related issues.
In turn, Baldoni and his publicist Jennifer Abel filed a countersuit against Jones in March 2025, claiming she had breached client confidentiality by sharing private communications. These communications later became important evidence in Lively’s sexual harassment case against Baldoni.
Details of Mediation Session and Legal Proceedings
The mediation between Lively and Baldoni lasted approximately six hours before Magistrate Judge Sarah L. Cave but ended without a resolution, a source close to the case confirmed. Settlement conferences like this serve as opportunities to avoid trials by encouraging parties to find common ground. However, given the session’s outcome, the case looks set to continue through the courts.
The judge overseeing Lively’s lawsuit, Lewis J. Liman, has yet to rule on Baldoni’s pending motion for summary judgment. Until then, the parties remain entrenched in litigation, with a trial date scheduled for May 18, underscoring the high stakes of this conflict.
Attorneys’ Comments and Trial Outlook
Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, confirmed that no settlement agreement was reached during the mediation. When asked about the likelihood of the case proceeding to trial, Freedman stated,
“I do. We’re looking forward to it,”
Bryan Freedman said. This signals the parties’ readiness to confront the allegations and claims head-on in court.
The legal battle began in December 2024 when Lively filed a lawsuit accusing Baldoni of sexual harassment and retaliation, allegations he denies. Baldoni responded with a countersuit seeking $400 million, though that claim has since been dismissed. Lively contends she suffered $161 million in losses due to what she describes as a retaliatory smear campaign.
Implications and What Lies Ahead
This ongoing dispute between former costars Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni emphasizes the complex, often contentious nature of celebrity lawsuits involving allegations of sexual harassment and retaliation. The failure to reach a settlement means the court will likely be the final arbiter of these claims. With the trial set for mid-May, both parties face a high-stakes legal confrontation that will have significant implications for their careers and reputations.
