A federal judge in New York dismissed Blake Lively’s sexual harassment claims against Justin Baldoni related to their roles in the movie “It Ends With Us,” but allowed two retaliation claims to proceed. The ruling came after Lively sued Baldoni in December 2024, alleging harassment and other issues. A trial is set for May 18. Baldoni, who directed and co-starred in the film, denied the allegations. He and Wayfarer Studios had countersued Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, for defamation and extortion, but those claims were dismissed. Judge Lewis J. Liman ruled that Lively, as an independent contractor, could not bring harassment claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. He noted that Baldoni’s actions occurred during a scene and were not beyond what might be expected in a film context. Lively’s attorney emphasized the focus on retaliation and damage to her reputation.
QUESTION: How might the outcome of this trial influence the way actors and filmmakers approach scenes that require physical interaction?
Judge dismisses Blake Lively’s sexual harassment claims against Justin Baldoni
