Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni Face Off in Court Over Harassment Allegations

Sat Feb 14 2026 01:15:43 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Actor Blake Lively and director Justin Baldoni attended settlement talks in New York for a lawsuit involving sexual harassment on the set of 'It Ends With Us'. The extensive negotiations ended without a resolution, leading to a high-profile trial scheduled for May 2024.

Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni were present at a New York courthouse for settlement discussions concerning allegations of sexual harassment during the filming of the romantic drama 'It Ends With Us'. The mandatory six-hour talks failed to result in an agreement, keeping the issues surrounding their contentious litigation in the media's spotlight as a trial date of May 18, 2024, draws near. This case has involved a host of celebrities, with a trial expected to bring additional revelations about Hollywood's power dynamics.

NEW YORK (AP) — Actor Blake Lively and director Justin Baldoni appeared at a New York courthouse on Wednesday, participating in settlement talks regarding Lively's lawsuit that alleges sexual harassment occurred on the set of the upcoming romantic drama ‘It Ends With Us’.

The lawyers engaged in discussions over a six-hour period, but Lively and Baldoni left separately without comments, with Lively appearing stern and Baldoni smiling.

Baldoni's attorney, Bryan Freedman, indicated via email that the discussions did not culminate in a settlement.

Settlement talks are compulsory before a civil case can advance to trial, although these talks typically happen behind closed doors.

This ongoing litigation has garnered widespread media interest, casting a spotlight on larger issues of power and gender dynamics within Hollywood, pulling in various other actors, musicians, and celebrities.

Lively's lawsuit alleges that Baldoni and his crisis communications expert orchestrated a campaign to damage her reputation following her grievances regarding his conduct on set.

Baldoni, in response, filed a countersuit against Lively and her husband, actor Ryan Reynolds, alleging defamation and extortion. However, this countersuit was dismissed last June.

The trial is anticipated to be star-studded, as Lively's legal team has suggested that potential witnesses could include notable figures such as singer Taylor Swift, model Gigi Hadid, and actors like Emily Blunt and Hugh Jackman, among others.