Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni Reach Settlement in 'It Ends With Us' Lawsuit

The parties issued a joint statement on May 4, 2026, which read: "We are pleased to announce that we have reached a resolution in the litigation involving It Ends With Us. We are proud of the film we created together and the important message it conveys about ending the cycle of domestic violence.

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. We are committed to fostering safe and respectful work environments in our industry and beyond.

Lively filed the lawsuit in December 2024 against Baldoni, his production company Wayfarer Studios, and others, alleging sexual harassment, retaliation, and related claims during the filming of "It Ends With Us," which Baldoni directed and in which both starred.

The film premiered in August 2024. According to the complaint filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court and later moved to federal court, Lively claimed Baldoni made inappropriate comments, added unscripted sexual content, and discussed his pornography addiction.

The suit also alleged that Wayfarer Studios conducted a retaliatory smear campaign after Lively raised concerns about on-set misconduct.

Baldoni denied all allegations. In January 2025, he filed a $400 million countersuit in Los Angeles County Superior Court against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, their publicist Leslie Sloane, and others, alleging defamation, extortion, and interference with business relations.

Baldoni's filing claimed Lively sought to take control of the film through her complaints. That countersuit was dismissed in June 2025.

In April 2026, Judge Liman dismissed 10 of Lively's 13 claims, including those for sexual harassment, defamation, and conspiracy. The remaining three claims—breach of contract, retaliation, and aiding and abetting retaliation—were allowed to proceed to trial.

Baldoni also filed a lawsuit in December 2024 against The New York Times, alleging defamation in its reporting on the dispute. That case was dismissed in March 2025.

Court records show that in February 2026, Lively and Baldoni attended a court-ordered settlement conference overseen by Magistrate Judge Sarah L. Cave in the Southern District of New York. Baldoni was accompanied by his wife, Emily Baldoni, while Lively attended alone.

Initial discussions that day did not result in a resolution, according to a statement from Baldoni's attorney, Bryan Freedman. A second day of proceedings occurred without Lively present.

Unsealed court documents from April 2026 included private communications, such as Lively's emails to Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez seeking input on a film cut, and text messages with Taylor Swift, who referred to Baldoni in negative terms. Baldoni issued a subpoena to Swift in summer 2025 for testimony, which was later withdrawn.

No further public statements from Swift regarding the matter appear in court records.

The terms of the settlement have not been publicly disclosed. No additional comments from the parties' representatives were available as of May 4, 2026.