Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni resolve bitter legal dispute ahead of trial

Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni have reached an agreement to resolve their legal dispute, bringing an abrupt end to a high-profile and increasingly contentious battle that had been set to go to trial in two weeks.

"The parties in the Blake Lively and Wayfarer Studios litigation have reached an agreement to resolve the matters," lawyers for both sides said in a joint statement Monday in a case that has drawn outsized attention for more than a year.

"The end product - the movie 'It Ends With Us' - is a source of pride to all of us who worked to bring it to life. Raising awareness, and making a meaningful impact in the lives of domestic violence survivors - and all survivors - is a goal that we stand behind. We acknowledge the process presented challenges and recognize concerns raised by Ms. Lively deserved to be heard. We remain firmly committed to workplaces free of improprieties and unproductive environments. It is our sincere hope that this brings closure and allows all involved to move forward constructively and in peace, including a respectful environment online."

The statement did not disclose the terms of the agreement, and it was not immediately clear whether any financial component was part of the resolution or how the parties addressed legal fees.

The bitter dispute grew out of the production of the 2024 romantic drama "It Ends With Us," which Baldoni directed and co-starred in opposite Lively. Adapted from a novel by author Colleen Hoover about a woman who is grappling with domestic violence and emotional abuse, the film grossed $350 million worldwide but quickly became overshadowed by reports of a rift between its two leads, with both sides offering sharply different accounts of what took place during and after filming.

Lively sued Baldoni, his production company Wayfarer Studios and others in December 2024, alleging sexual harassment, retaliation and other claims tied to her experience on the film. The complaint described alleged conduct including producers showing nude videos and images of women, comments about Lively's weight and physical touching and sexual remarks without her consent.

Baldoni denied the allegations, arguing that the dispute had been mischaracterized. Over more than a year, the conflict sprawled into a series of lawsuits, countersuits and public claims that drew intense attention in Hollywood and touched on broader questions about workplace conduct and retaliation in the post-#MeToo era.

Last month, U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman dismissed most of Lively's claims, including her sexual harassment allegations, significantly narrowing the case ahead of a trial that had been scheduled to begin May 18 in New York.

The remaining claims, centered largely on alleged retaliation, had been expected to be the focus of the trial, which was likely to last two to three weeks - a proceeding that would have turned to witness testimony and competing accounts of what happened on set, with reputational stakes for both sides. Lively was expected to testify, and potential witnesses included her husband, actor Ryan Reynolds.

Lively rose to prominence on the TV series "Gossip Girl" and has since starred in films including "The Age of Adaline" and "A Simple Favor." Baldoni is best known for his role on the CW series "Jane the Virgin" and has built a parallel career as a director, with credits including "Five Feet Apart" and "Clouds."

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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This story was originally published May 4, 2026 at 2:14 PM.