Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni have finally put their legal drama to rest, settling the dispute over the acrimonious production of their 2024 film "It Ends With Us" just weeks before a trial that promised to be more explosive than the movie's plot. In a joint statement issued Monday, legal representatives for both parties struck a tone of reconciliation, declaring that the film itself is "a source of pride" and that raising awareness for domestic violence survivors is a goal they "stand behind."
The statement acknowledged that "the process presented challenges" and that "concerns raised by Ms. Lively deserved to be heard," while expressing a hope for closure and a more respectful online environment. The settlement details, however, remain as undisclosed as the ending of a sequel nobody asked for.
The feud began in December 2024 when Lively, who starred in the adaptation of Colleen Hoover's novel, accused Baldoni - who also directed and co-starred - of sexual harassment and fostering a hostile work environment. She alleged that his production company, Wayfarer Studios, retaliated after she raised concerns, and that Baldoni had "inserted improvised gratuitous sexual content" into the film. Baldoni fired back with a $400 million counter-defamation lawsuit against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, plus a $250 million suit against The New York Times over an article titled "We Can Bury Anyone: Inside a Hollywood Smear Machine," claiming the couple tried to "seize control" of the film.
The legal seesaw continued into 2025: Lively withdrew two emotional distress claims in June, a judge dismissed Baldoni's lawsuits against the couple and the Times, and in April, another judge tossed out 10 of Lively's 13 allegations, leaving only breach of contract, retaliation, and aiding and abetting in retaliation. Now, instead of a courtroom showdown, we get a press release. Hollywood, folks: where even the lawsuits need a happy ending.