Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni return to court despite reaching settlement
Despite finally reaching a settlement in their sprawling legal case last month, Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni have now returned to the courtroom for another round of battling.
The roots of the case stretch all the way back to 2024, when Lively accused Baldoni of harassment and launching a smear campaign against her, following their film It Ends With Us.
In April, ten of the 13 allegations made by Lively against Baldoni, including harassment and defamation, were dismissed, and the pair finally reached a settlement in the case last month,, the terms of which are undisclosed.
However, despite the legal battle seemingly being over in one regard, the actors returned to court on June 1st as Lively is attempting to sue Baldoni for legal fees and damages over the case.
According to The Guardian, Lively’s legal team is arguing that the $400 million defamation case that Baldoni brought against her in response to her initial claims was a retaliatory move that is banned under the laws of California.
Baldoni’s case, as well as his attempt to sue The New York Times for publishing Lively’s claims, were dismissed by a judge in June 2025.
It is not known what specific sum Lively is suing Baldoni for in terms of her legal fees and damages.
When the case was settled last month, the pair released a joint statement in which they 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.”
The statement noted that they were equally committed to “raising awareness” for survivors of domestic violence, while “We acknowledge the process presented challenges and recognise concerns raised by Ms Lively deserved to be heard.”
They concluded by adding: “We remain firmly committed to workplaces free of improprieties and unproductive environments. It is our sincere hope that this brings closure and allows all involved to move forward constructively and in peace, including a respectful environment online.”
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