Blake Lively is reportedly “devastated” after a judge threw out most of her claims against Justin Baldoni, including the allegations of sexual harassment.
The courtroom defeat comes more than a year after she filed a lawsuit accusing him of sexual harassment on the set of “It Ends With Us,” as well as launching a smear campaign against her.
Sources close to Blake Lively, however, say she’s not backing down just like that, and the actress would put up a fight to ensure she comes out on top.
Blake Lively Is Reportedly ‘Devastated’ After Major Legal Setback
Blake Lively has reportedly been left saddened after a federal judge handed her a significant blow in her long-running court battle against her former co-star Justin Baldoni.
In an earlier ruling this week, Judge Lewis Liman threw out 10 of the 13 allegations she leveled against him, including harassment and defamation claims.
The verdict is understood to have left the “A Simple Favor” actress “devastated,” as it completely changes the nature of the case. Yet, she’s not throwing in the towel and has vowed to fight till the end.
“She’s devastated,” a source told Rob Shuter’s #ShuterScoop. “This is not the outcome she expected.”
Behind the scenes, she’s understandably not taking the ruling well, with the insider explaining that she’s far from backing down.
“She’s angry,” the source said. “She feels like her story isn’t being fully heard.”
The Actress Is ‘Not Quitting,’ And She Plans To Prove The Remaining Allegations
Lively and Baldoni have been at each other’s throats since the 38-year-old actress filed a lawsuit in 2024, accusing him of harassment and a smear campaign on the set of their hit movie.
He denied it and filed a $400 million countersuit against her and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, accusing them of defamation and extortion, while also claiming she tried to wrestle creative control of the movie from him. However, a judge has since dismissed his suit.
As things stand, he cannot fully breathe a sigh of relief just yet, as 3 of Lively’s claims, namely breach of contract, retaliation, and aiding and abetting in retaliation, will now go to a civil trial in New York on 18 May.
This changes everything, and the insider told the journalist that Lively is going to be doubling down on proving what remains.
“Blake is not quitting,” the source explained. “She’s digging in. This just became a different fight. Narrower — but more intense.”
Blake Lively’s Sexual Harassment Claims Were Dropped Because Of A Technicality
A member of Lively’s legal team, Sigrid McCawley, weighed in on the development, telling the BBC that the case “has always been and will remain focused on the devastating retaliation and the extraordinary steps the defendants took to destroy” the actress’s reputation.
McCawley added that the reason the sexual harassment claims were dropped was “not because the defendants did nothing wrong,” but because of a technicality in the case.
Judge Liman, in his 152-page opinion, gave reasons for his decision to dismiss Lively’s claims against Baldoni.
He mentioned that the sexual harassment claims didn’t cross under California laws because the filming where the actor allegedly did it was carried out in New Jersey.
“None of these acts or occurrences provides the ‘substantial connection’ to California needed to sustain Lively’s sexual harassment claims,” Judge Liman wrote.
He also added that the “Gossip Girl” star was ineligible to bring certain claims of harassment and retaliation forward because she was an independent contractor and not an employee.
The Actress ‘Wants Her Day In Court’
The insider who spoke to Rob Shuter also alluded to Lively’s resilience and her willingness to testify in court.
“She wants her day in court,” the source said of the actress. “And she’s determined to get it. The pressure is higher now. She has less room for error — and a lot more to prove.”
“She took a major hit,” they added. “But now it’s personal — and she’s fighting back.”
Lively’s lawyer, McCawley, spoke about the actress’s plans to testify during the trial, noting that she would continue “to shine a light on this vicious form of online retaliation.”
Justin Baldoni’s Team Says They’re ‘Very Pleased’
Meanwhile, Baldoni’s lawyers have reacted to the ruling, saying they’re “very pleased” that Judge Liman threw out the claims.
“We’re very pleased the Court dismissed all sexual harassment claims and every claim brought against the individual defendants: Justin Baldoni, Jamey Heath, Steve Sarowitz, Melissa Nathan, and Jennifer Abel,” Alexandra Shapiro and Jonathan Bach of Shapiro Arato Bach told People Magazine.
“These were very serious allegations, and we are grateful to the Court for its careful review of the facts, law, and voluminous evidence that was provided,” the statement added. “What’s left is a significantly narrowed case, and we look forward to presenting our defense to the remaining claims in court.”