Blake Lively walked away from her legal battle with director Justin Baldoni without a dollar in compensation, according to reports confirmed by TMZ, Variety, and other outlets. The settlement, announced Monday, resolved a dispute that had been headed toward a trial scheduled to begin May 18 and expected to run six to eight weeks.
Despite the settlement, Lively has a pending motion for attorneys' fees and damages tied to Baldoni's now-dismissed defamation suit against her. Sources close to the matter cautioned against reading too much into early reports. "Anyone purporting to confirm the terms of the confidential settlement at this point is misleading you," a source told Variety. "More information about this confidential settlement will be on the court's docket in the coming days."
The dispute dates to 2024, when Lively accused Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios, of fostering a toxic, sexually charged work environment on the set of "It Ends With Us" and of running a coordinated campaign to damage her reputation. Baldoni countersued for $400 million, alleging defamation. That suit was dismissed. He also sued The New York Times over its reporting on Lively's original complaint. That case was tossed as well.
The legal fight had narrowed considerably even before the settlement. A judge dismissed 10 of Lively's 13 claims earlier this month, including her sexual harassment allegations. The remaining claims centered on retaliation and breach of contract. In the weeks before settlement, lawyers on both sides were arguing over expert witness testimony and the scope of damages. Lively's team put her losses from the dispute at between $39 million and $143 million. Baldoni's lawyers pushed back, arguing her earnings from four films over the prior eight years totaled roughly $21 million.
Rolling Stone reported that Baldoni was especially pleased with the outcome.
In a joint statement released alongside the settlement, lawyers for Wayfarer Studios and Lively said the film itself remained a source of pride. "Raising awareness, and making a meaningful impact in the lives of domestic violence survivors — and all survivors — is a goal that we stand behind," the statement read. It also acknowledged that "the process presented challenges" and that "concerns raised by Ms. Lively deserved to be heard."
Representatives for both Lively and Baldoni did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
