Actress Blake Lively has partially withdrawn some of her legal claims against actor-director Justin Baldoni in a high-profile and still-unfolding legal battle centered around the production of the film It Ends With Us. The decision, filed in court earlier this week, marks a significant development in the contentious dispute that has captivated both Hollywood insiders and the public.
According to court records, Lively officially withdrew her claims of emotional damages and negligent infliction of emotional distress. These claims were among the more sensitive parts of her original complaint and would have required her legal team to provide access to her confidential medical and psychological records. Baldoni’s legal team had formally requested those records as part of the discovery process, prompting what legal experts are calling a "strategic withdrawal" on Lively’s part.
The Gossip Girl star’s legal team emphasized that the withdrawal was “without prejudice”, a legal term meaning she cannot reintroduce those specific claims later. While this limits the scope of her case, her lawyers say the move is deliberate and intended to protect her privacy while allowing the case to move more efficiently through the courts.
"Blake is prioritizing her well-being and choosing not to expose deeply personal health records in open court," a source close to her legal team told DailyMail. "This does not reflect a softening of her position but rather a focus on the more critical, actionable parts of the case."
The lawsuit stems from allegations Lively made in December 2024, accusing Baldoni, best known for his roles in Jane the Virgin and for directing film adaptations of emotionally charged novels, of sexual harassment, creating a hostile work environment, and engaging in workplace retaliation during the filming of It Ends With Us. Lively, who both starred in and co-produced the film, claimed she endured repeated instances of inappropriate behavior and was punished professionally for speaking out.
Baldoni has vehemently denied the allegations and responded with an aggressive $400 million countersuit, accusing Lively of extortion and defamation, stating that her claims were part of a calculated effort to damage his career and reputation. His suit also controversially implicates Lively’s husband, actor Ryan Reynolds, and her longtime publicist, suggesting they participated in what his legal team describes as a coordinated media campaign.
More recently, Baldoni’s camp has hinted at involving pop star Taylor Swift, citing her close friendship with Lively and suggesting she may have played an informal advisory role in public messaging around the accusations. Swift has not commented on the case, and her representatives have remained silent on the matter.
With Lively’s withdrawal of emotional distress claims, the focus now shifts to the remaining legal accusations, specifically, sexual harassment, professional retaliation, and discrimination on set, which are set to go to trial in 2026. Though trimmed down, the lawsuit remains explosive, involving some of Hollywood’s most recognizable names and raising serious questions about power dynamics on film sets, accountability, and the public handling of alleged misconduct.
Legal analysts note that this tactical withdrawal could benefit both sides in the short term, reducing the scope of intrusive discovery while sharpening the focus on the most pressing charges. However, the stakes remain high.
“This is still very much a live wire of a case,” said entertainment attorney Melissa Raines, who is not involved with the case but has been following the proceedings closely. “What Blake’s team has done here is tighten their strategy. But the core of the conflict, allegations of harassment and retaliation in a high-pressure Hollywood production, remains intact and could still do real reputational damage depending on what surfaces at trial.”
The saga has already sparked broader conversations about workplace conduct in the entertainment industry, with fans and critics alike weighing in across social media. The set of It Ends With Us, which had initially been billed as a passion project for both Lively and Baldoni, is now being scrutinized as the backdrop for a very public, and very personal, legal showdown. As the 2026 court date draws nearer, both camps appear committed to seeing the matter through. Whether the trial will ultimately shed more light or simply generate more heat remains to be seen.
