Legal News

Blake Lively’s Lawyers Call Justin Baldoni Settlement ‘Victory,’ His Side Says ‘They Were Going to Lose’

Michael Gioia

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ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA; Steven Bergman/AFF-USA.COM / MEGA

Though Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni have settled their It Ends With Us legal drama, their respective attorneys still appear to be trading barbs.

After it was revealed earlier this week that the legal teams for Lively, 38, and Baldoni, 42, reached an agreement before their case was to go to trial in New York City, their sides have spoken out.

“This settlement is a resounding victory for Blake Lively,” attorneys Michael Gottlieb and Esra Hudson said in a statement (obtained by The California Post writer at large Tatiana Siegel). “By agreeing to this settlement, and waiving their right to appeal, Justin Baldoni and every individual defendant now face personal liability for abusing the legal system to silence and intimidate Ms. Lively.”

“And by admitting that Ms. Lively’s concerns ‘deserved to be heard,’ the defendants have ended once and for all the fiction that Ms. Lively ‘fabricated’ claims of sexual harassment and retaliation,” the statement added. “From day one Blake Lively’s mission was clear: expose and hold accountable those who weaponize smear campaigns and retaliatory lawsuits to intimidate and silence survivors. That mission continues.”

JOHN ANGELILLO/UPI/Newscom/The Mega Agency

Baldoni attorney’s Bryan Freedman followed that statement with one of his own, saying, “Let’s be clear, this is a win and total victory for the Wayfarer parties. The court had already dismissed 10 of Ms. Lively’s 13 claims, including every sexual harassment claim, every defamation claim, and all claims against the individual defendants.”

“Ms. Lively voluntarily dismissed the rest,” he added. “In our view, they settled because they knew they were going to lose in court. All that remains is a pending request for fees based on a very narrow issue that has been with the court since September 2025.”

According to People, the settlement agreement says that the actress can still pursue legal fees against Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios. Baldoni and the Wayfarer parties reportedly “irrevocably” waived an appeal in the settlement agreement.

As previously reported, Lively — who worked closely alongside the director and star of the troubled 2024 film — claimed that Baldoni inappropriately improvised on the set of It Ends With Us, making her feel uncomfortable.

JOHN ANGELILLO/UPI/Newscom/The Mega Agency

The actress sued Baldoni and others, alleging sexual harassment and retaliation, claims that he has denied. Baldoni filed a countersuit against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds and their publicist for extortion and defamation, but it was dismissed by a judge.

Lively hit the Met Gala red carpet shortly after the settlement was revealed.

Sources previously told Page Six Hollywood that the pair spent an estimated $60 million combined to sue and countersue one another.

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