Blake Lively‘s reaction to legal victory against Justin Baldoni emerged this week after months of escalating legal drama between the two stars. A judge’s dismissal of Baldoni’s countersuit not only vindicated Lively but also ended a tense chapter in their dispute over the film adaptation of It Ends With Us.
Judge Tosses Out Justin Baldoni’s Countersuit
The ongoing legal battle between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni began in December 2024, when Lively filed a lawsuit accusing Baldoni of sexual harassment during the production of their shared film. In response, Baldoni, who is both an actor and director, countersued for $400 million, alleging that Lively and her husband attempted to wrest creative control of the movie from him. This high-stakes conflict has played out both inside and outside of courtrooms over recent months.
Recently, a judge dismissed Baldoni’s legal action. Based on court documents and statements shared through sources such as the Daily Mail, the ruling left Lively deeply emotional. A source close to her commented,
“Complete elation from Blake’s world and a monkey off her back,”
and continued,
“Blake is breathing a sigh of relief right now, and all tears are happy tears.”
—insider
Judge Lewis Liman Explains the Decision
In delivering his ruling, Judge Lewis Liman clarified the reasons for dismissing Baldoni’s countersuit. The core rationale was that Lively’s allegations were made in legally protected court documents, and thus, she could not be held liable for those statements. Judge Liman stated,
“The Wayfarer Parties have not alleged that Lively is responsible for any statements other than the statements in her CRD complaint, which are privileged,”
and also pointed out,
“The Wayfarer Parties have alleged that Reynolds and [publicist Leslie] Sloane made additional statements accusing Baldoni of sexual misconduct and that the Times made additional statements accusing the Wayfarer Parties of engaging in a smear campaign.”
—Lewis Liman, Judge
Liman went on to explain that,
“But the Wayfarer Parties have not alleged that Reynolds, Sloane, or the Times would have seriously doubted these statements were true based on the information available to them, as is required for them to be liable for defamation under applicable law.”
—Lewis Liman, Judge
He concluded with,
“The Wayfarer Parties’ additional claims also fail. Accordingly, the Amended Complaint must be dismissed in its entirety.”
—Lewis Liman, Judge
Possibility of Amending the Complaint Remains
While the lawsuit was dismissed, Judge Liman did not completely close the door on further legal moves. He acknowledged that The New York Times’ coverage of the dispute did not appear driven by bias, stating,
“The Times reviewed the available evidence and reported, perhaps in a dramatized manner, what it believed to have happened. The Times had no obvious motive to favor Lively’s version of events.”
—Lewis Liman, Judge
The judge clarified that Baldoni and his associated parties, known as the Wayfarer Parties, are permitted to submit an amended lawsuit by June 23, 2025. However, any revised complaint must only focus on aspects
“relevant to the claims of tortious interference with contract and breach of implied covenant.”
—Lewis Liman, Judge
Landscape of Victory for Lively and Her Team
In the wake of this judgment, Blake Lively’s legal representatives expressed strong satisfaction with the outcome, describing it as a significant win. They stated,
“As we have said from day one, this ‘$400 million’ lawsuit was a sham, and the Court saw right through it.”
—Lively’s lawyers
Looking ahead to the next steps in the process, the legal team added,
“We look forward to the next round, which is seeking attorneys’ fees, treble damages, and punitive damages against Baldoni, Sarowitz, Nathan, and the other Wayfarer Parties who perpetrated this abusive litigation.”
—Lively’s lawyers
Lively Describes Emotional Impact of Legal Battle
Blake Lively spoke candidly about the personal toll resulting from the stressful court proceedings during a May appearance on Seth Meyers’ television show. Without naming Baldoni directly or discussing specific details, she described how the past year had tested her:
“What I can say without going too into it is that this year has been the highest of highs and the lowest of lows in my life and I see so many women around afraid to speak, especially right now, afraid to share their experiences, and fear is by design.”
—Blake Lively, Actress
She further shared,
“It’s what keeps us silent. But I also acknowledge that many people don’t have the opportunity to speak.”
—Blake Lively, Actress
Reflecting on her own ability to come forward, Lively noted,
“So I do feel fortunate that I’ve been able to, and as a woman, you have the ability to use your voice – that’s kept me strong and helped me in my belief and my fight for the world to be safer for women and girls. It’s a pretty simple thing,”
—Blake Lively, Actress
What Comes Next After the Legal Ruling
For Blake Lively, this legal victory marks a major shift after a difficult year. The court’s decision provided her with both legal vindication and personal relief, as suggested by those close to her. While Baldoni and the Wayfarer Parties have the chance to bring revised claims by June 2025, their options are now limited. The outcome of this high-profile courtroom drama not only impacts those directly involved—such as Lively, Baldoni, and their respective teams—but may also shape how future disputes involving Hollywood productions and misconduct allegations are litigated and perceived in the public eye.
