Blake Lively Continues to Fight Back in New York Court Against Justin Baldoni
Blake Lively is continuing her fight in New York court against Justin Baldoni after a federal judge dismissed the majority of her claims against her It Ends with Us director-costar. Lively took to her Instagram Stories on Friday, April 3, 2026, posting a statement declaring that she will “never stop doing my part in fighting to expose the systems and people who seek to harm, shame, silence and retaliate against victims.”
This message arrived shortly after her attorney, Michael Gottlieb, reacted to Thursday’s ruling, which saw Federal Judge Lewis J. Liman throw out 10 of Lively’s 13 claims. While the court dismissed allegations related to harassment, defamation, and conspiracy, a narrower set of claims, including breach of contract and the crucial retaliation claim against Baldoni’s company Wayfarer Studios, will proceed to trial on May 18.
According to People, Lively, 38, emphasized her privilege in being able to speak up, stating, “I know it’s a privilege to be able to stand up. I will not waste it.” She included a dragon emoji in her post, which could be a subtle nod to Baldoni’s January 2025 countersuit, which was later dismissed. In that suit, he alleged that Lively sent texts comparing herself to Game of Thrones character Khaleesi, calling her husband Ryan Reynolds and friend Taylor Swift her “dragons.”
Lively has said that a lawsuit was the last thing she ever wanted in her life
The actress-producer filed a sexual harassment complaint against Baldoni in December 2024. Her complaint alleged misconduct on the set of the Colleen Hoover adaptation It Ends with Us, along with claims of a retaliatory smear campaign, which Baldoni has denied. Despite the recent setback in court, Lively expressed gratitude that “the heart of my case” will still be presented to a jury next month.
She looks forward to finally telling her full story at trial, not just for herself, but also for others who don’t have the same opportunity. Lively mentioned knowing and loving many people who have gone through similar experiences, and countless others she will never know.
Blake brought this case, she said, because of the “pervasive RETALIATION I faced, and continue to, for privately and professionally asking for a safe working environment for myself and others.” She hopes the court’s decision, even with the dismissals, will encourage others to speak up, regardless of how “unfathomably painful” it might be.
She also urged fans not to “be distracted by the digital soap opera.” Lively emphasized that “the physical pain from digital violence is very real. It is abuse. And it’s everywhere… my claims won’t be the first or last time you’ll see examples of the extreme dangers of retaliation and digital warfare.” Lively concluded by thanking those who have come before her and those who continue to fight for safety in all spaces. “Your support keeps me going,” she wrote.
In a significant move, WME, Lively’s agency, has decided to publicly support her
WME dropped Justin Baldoni hours after Lively first accused him of sexual harassment. The agency released a statement to news outlets on Friday, echoing Lively’s sentiments about standing up for oneself. They noted that “in an industry that too often asks women to absorb the damage and stay quiet, Blake Lively chose to stand up for herself, her castmates, and those without the ability to fight back.” It praised her “courage, moral clarity, and extraordinary determination”.
This public endorsement from WME marks a significant turn in a clash that has forced many in Hollywood to take sides. The upcoming trial will undoubtedly pit two very different narratives against each other.
One side describes an A-list actress, supported by major celebrities, allegedly plotting to take control of a director’s passion project. The other, as Lively and WME suggest, is a story of sexual harassment and retaliation, with a filmmaker allegedly backed by a billionaire funding a network of public relations professionals aimed at destroying her career.
The court’s decision to dismiss many claims but allow others to proceed was an inflection point. While the sexual harassment, defamation, and conspiracy claims were thrown out, the court did signal concerns about the public relations maneuvers by Baldoni’s camp following the allegations. U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman wrote that “certain conduct at least arguably crossed the line.”
He added that there are limits to how an accused person can respond to harassment claims. “There comes a point where the accused stops simply defending him or herself and starts taking action that a reasonable jury could view as retaliation for the fact that the accuser had the temerity to make the accusations,” the judge stated.
It continues to not look good for Baldoni
WME’s statement stressed that Lively “helped expose the devastating harm caused by covert digital takedown campaigns designed to intimidate, discredit, and drown out the truth.” This aligns with Lively’s own comments about digital violence and warfare. Many central claims in Lively’s lawsuit revolve around Baldoni allegedly orchestrating a retaliatory campaign in the press and on social media after she publicized her allegations of sexual harassment on the movie set.
Court documents reveal some concerning exchanges. Melissa Nathan of The Agency Group, Baldoni’s crisis communications specialist, reportedly mentioned that she couldn’t send certain documents “that could get us in a lot of trouble” due to worries about them ending “up in the wrong hands.” She allegedly added, “You know we can bury anyone.”
Similarly, Wayfarer founder Steve Sarowitz is quoted as stating, “There will be two dead bodies when I’m done.” Wayfarer, Baldoni’s production company, has maintained that any actions it took were purely for self-defense. The company also claims that it ultimately did not take many of the offensive actions it contemplated.
(featured image: Caitlin Ochs/Reuters)
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