Blake Lively, known for her leading role in the film *It Ends With Us*, has recently attempted to withdraw two claims in her ongoing legal battle against director Justin Baldoni. The actress originally filed suit against Baldoni in December 2024, accusing him of sexual harassment and conducting a smear campaign against her after their collaboration on the film.
As part of his defense, Baldoni's legal team requested Lively to provide her medical records, including therapy notes, to support their counterclaim regarding her allegations of “severe emotional distress.” According to reports from Variety, Lively is now looking to drop her claims of intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligent infliction of emotional distress.
Documents submitted by Baldoni’s lawyers revealed Lively's legal team informed them about her intention to withdraw those claims. However, Baldoni's team requested that this withdrawal be made with prejudice, meaning that she would not be allowed to refile the claims, an offer Lively’s counsels reportedly refused. They insisted that Lively’s decision to streamline her case is a strategic move rather than an admission of weakness.
Despite retracting these specific claims, Lively continues to maintain that she has suffered emotional distress as part of her overall allegations against Baldoni, which include sexual harassment and retaliation, with plans for significant additional damages under California law.
In the broader context of this lawsuit, Baldoni has also counter-sued Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, accusing them of civil extortion, defamation, and invasion of privacy, since the film's release in the summer of 2023. The film, based on the popular novel by Colleen Hoover, tells a story centered around themes of domestic abuse and recovery.
The drama surrounding the case intensified recently when singer Taylor Swift was summoned in relation to the legal drama, alleged to have persuaded Baldoni on script decisions. Swift's representatives denied any involvement, and her subpoena was eventually dismissed, deemed excessive by her legal counsel.
As this legal matter unfolds, both parties continue to navigate complex claims that could have further implications in the industry.
