Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni have reached an official settlement after months of legal warnings and increasingly tense public back-and-forth stemming from the production of the 2024 film It Ends With Us.
The agreement came in the eleventh hour, landing roughly two weeks before the two actors were set to meet in court. Both were expected to testify and give their accounts of what happened.
The dispute has loomed over the project for around two years. Lively alleged that Baldoni engaged in harassment, sexual misconduct, and coordinated efforts to undermine her publicly during the making of the movie.
Baldoni repeatedly denied the claims and responded with a countersuit. The competing actions drew in other high-profile figures by association, including Taylor Swift, as the clash escalated.
Rather than letting the case play out in an open courtroom, the former co-stars opted to resolve the matter privately. Following Monday’s decision, lawyers representing both sides released a joint statement.
It began by describing It Ends With Us as something everyone involved remains proud of creating.
“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,” it continued. “We remain firmly committed to workplaces free of improprieties and unproductive environments.”
The statement ended by saying both actors ‘hope that this brings closure and allows all involved to move forward constructively and in peace.’
The lawsuit centred on what allegedly occurred on set as Baldoni and Lively worked on adapting Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel for the screen. In the film, Lively plays Lily Bloom, who grows up witnessing domestic abuse and later confronts similar circumstances in adulthood.
In her filings, Lively’s attorneys accused Baldoni and his studio, Wayfarer, of several forms of misconduct, including an alleged plan to damage her public image and efforts to influence social media coverage and press narratives to her detriment.
She also brought a lawsuit against Wayfarer Studios in December 2024, alleging Baldoni sexually harassed her during production and then retaliated after she raised concerns.
Altogether, Lively levelled 13 allegations. A judge dismissed 10 of them last month, leaving three claims on track for trial: breach of contract, retaliation, and aiding and abetting in retaliation.
Baldoni’s countersuit targeted Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and their publicist, alleging defamation. He argued the claims were intended to derail his career and harm his reputation, and he also named the New York Times in relation to the dispute.
He further claimed Lively ‘stole the film’ from him and Wayfarer, and alleged she threatened to withhold promotional work for the project. He also contended she advanced a false storyline that he had harassed and victimised her.
In June 2025, a judge threw out Baldoni’s lawsuit, stating his legal team had ‘not adequately alleged that Lively’s threats were wrongful extortion rather than legally permissible hard bargaining or renegotiation of working conditions.’
The matter had been scheduled for trial beginning May 18, but the settlement was finalised before court proceedings could begin.