Blake Lively is set to receive a little over $400,000 out of the $8 million she originally sought in legal fees from actor and director Justin Baldoni following their settlement regarding 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, outlined why Lively was not awarded the full amount requested by her legal team after Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios LLC, responded to her lawsuit from December 2024. While recognizing the intense legal battle between Lively and Baldoni, the judge limited Lively’s legal fees due to a California law protecting survivors of sexual harassment and discrimination from retaliatory legal actions. The judge specified that Lively could only be reimbursed for expenses related to defending against defamation claims, not all claims made by Baldoni.
Therefore, the judge determined that Lively is entitled to $363,245 in attorneys’ fees and $44,206 in costs. Baldoni and Lively’s representatives were both contacted for comments but have not responded.
In her lawsuit, Lively alleged 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 film, denied the accusations of harassment and smear campaigns, claiming that Lively fabricated complaints in an attempt to take control of the movie.
Following Lively’s lawsuit, Baldoni and Wayfarer filed a countersuit against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, alleging civil extortion, defamation, invasion of privacy, breach of good faith, fair dealing, and economic interference. However, the countersuit was dismissed by Liman in June 2025, and Lively’s sexual harassment claims were rejected nearly a year later on the basis that she was an independent contractor during the film’s production.
Prior to the scheduled trial, Lively and Baldoni reached a settlement in early May, expressing their commitment to fostering workplaces free of improprieties and unproductive environments.
“It Ends With Us,” based on Colleen Hoover’s novel about a deteriorating relationship leading to domestic violence, was released in August 2024, surpassing box office projections despite criticism for glorifying abuse. Lively’s lawsuit detailed instances of inappropriate behavior by Baldoni during filming, including comments on her appearance, violation of boundaries during a love scene, and insistence on nudity against her wishes.
Baldoni refuted claims of misconduct, stating that his actions were part of the standard creative process. Lively’s previous works include “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” (2005) and the TV series “Gossip Girl” (2007-2012), while Baldoni is known for his role in “Jane the Virgin,” directorial work on “Five Feet Apart” (2019), and authoring “Man Enough,” challenging traditional concepts of masculinity.