NEW YORK — Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni have settled the lawsuit that arose from the filming of the 2024 movie It Ends With Us, ending litigation over sexual harassment and retaliation claims. The agreement was reached roughly two weeks before a civil trial that had been scheduled to begin on May 18, 2026, at which both Lively and Baldoni were expected to testify.

Lively filed suit against Baldoni's Wayfarer Studios in December 2024, alleging sexual harassment on set and retaliation against her for complaining about the alleged misconduct. Baldoni denied the accusations and filed a counter-suit. He also brought defamation lawsuits against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, their publicist, and the New York Times.

In April 2026, a judge dismissed ten of thirteen allegations in Lively's lawsuit, leaving claims for breach of contract, retaliation, and aiding and abetting retaliation to proceed. The same judge dismissed Baldoni's counter-lawsuit.

In a joint statement, attorneys for Lively and Baldoni said: "The end product — the movie It Ends With Us — is a source of pride to all of us who worked to bring it to life." They added: "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 attorneys also said: "We acknowledge the process presented challenges and recognize concerns raised by Ms Lively deserved to be heard." They continued: "We remain firmly committed to workplaces free of improprieties and unproductive environments," and said they "hope that this brings closure and allows all involved to move forward constructively and in peace."

Lively addressed the resolution in a post on Instagram. "The last thing I wanted in my life was a lawsuit, but I brought this case because of the pervasive RETALIATION I faced, and continue to, for privately and professionally asking for a safe working environment for myself and others," she wrote. "I hope the Court's decision shows others that, as unfathomably painful as it is, you can speak up."

Lawyer Sigrid McCawley said: "For Blake Lively, the greatest measure of justice is that the people and the playbook behind these coordinated digital attacks have been exposed and are already being held accountable by other women they've targeted." The litigation also unveiled private texts and emails from Lively, Baldoni, and their network of friends, including messages between Lively and Taylor Swift about Baldoni.

It Ends With Us is an adaptation of a best-selling Colleen Hoover novel. In the film, Lively portrays Lily Bloom, a young woman who grew up witnessing domestic abuse and later finds herself in an abusive relationship.