NEWNow you can listen to Fox News articles!
Blake Lively's sexual harassment allegations against Justin Baldoni were dismissed by a New York judge on Thursday.
Judge Lewis J. Liman dismissed Lively's sexual harassment, defamation, conspiracy and Title VII claims against Baldoni. 2 retaliation claims remain as former castmates prepare for trial.
Following Liman's ruling on Thursday, Lively's team shared a statement with Fox News Digital.
Blake Lively will testify against Justin Baldoni when their cases are heard at trial in March 2026. (Getty Images)
“This case has always been and will continue to be focused on the devastating retaliation and extraordinary steps the defendants took to destroy Blake Lively's reputation because she stood up for safety on set and that is the case that will go to trial,” began Sigrid McCawley, a member of Lively's legal team.
BLAKE LIVELY'S APPLICATION TO PROTECT TAYLOR SWIFT'S TEXTS IN JUSTIN BALDONI LEGAL BATTLE CLOSED BY JUDGE
“For Blake Lively, the greatest measure of justice is that the people and playbook behind these coordinated digital attacks have been exposed and are already being held accountable by other women they have attacked. She looks forward to testifying at trial and continuing to shed light on this cruel form of online retaliation so that it is easier to detect and combat,” he continued.
“The sexual harassment does not continue, not because the defendants did nothing wrong but because the court determined that Blake Lively was an independent contractor, not an employee,” McCawley concluded.
Wayfarer Studios also shared a statement with Fox News Digital following the judge's ruling.
“We are very pleased that the Court has dismissed all sexual harassment lawsuits and all claims brought against the individual defendants: Justin Baldoni, Jamey Heath, Steve Sarowitz, Melissa Nathan, and Jennifer Abel. These were very serious allegations, and we thank the Court for its careful review of the facts, the law, and the voluminous evidence that was provided,” said the statement provided by Alexandra Shapiro and Jonathan Bach. Shapiro Arato Bach began.
Blake Lively appears on the set of “It Ends With Us” on May 18, 2023 in Hoboken, New Jersey. (Photo by Nancy Rivera/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images) (Nancy Rivera/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)
“What remains is a significantly reduced case and we look forward to presenting our defense to the remaining claims in court.”
Baldoni and Lively are still headed to trial, and the legal battle will begin on May 18.
CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER
Baldoni and Lively became embroiled in a legal tug-of-war after filming the Colleen Hoover-adapted movie, “It Ends With Us.” The “Gossip Girl” actress claimed to have suffered sexual harassment on set and sued Baldoni in December 2024.
Animated and detailed accusations of sexual harassmentretaliation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence and more made by Baldoni and film producer Jamey Heath in a complaint filed first with the California Department of Civil Rights and then in federal court.
Justin Baldoni speaks on stage during the Variety Faith And Spirituality Awards In Entertainment Honors presented by CFAM at the Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles in Beverly Hills on December 4, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Alberto Rodríguez/Variety)
DO YOU LIKE WHAT YOU ARE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
The same day Lively filed her federal lawsuit, Baldoni filed a $250 million lawsuit against the New York Times over a December 2024 article about the alleged smear campaign she attempted to wage against her co-star.
Weeks later, Baldoni named Lively and Reynolds in a separate report. $400 million defamation lawsuit in which he accused the Hollywood power couple of trying to hijack “It Ends With Us” and create their own narrative.
Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni (Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Thursday's conference call, where the judge dismissed Lively's sexual harassment allegations, also included a conversation between Lively and Baldoni's legal teams about jury selection for the upcoming trial.
