Just when headlines featuring Blake Lively’s name pitted against Justin Baldoni’s were starting to die down, the drama is back in the news rotation as their court date finally arrives. In a huge blow to Lively’s camp, a federal judge threw out 10 of her 13 claims, including claims of sexual harassment, defamation, and conspiracy. Keep reading for more information.
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Judge Dismisses Blake Lively's Harassment Claims
Ahead of their May 2026 trial, the scope of the lawsuit has gotten a lot narrower. Blake Lively's legal team came in hot with 13 allegations, but nearly all of them were dismissed, largely because Lively was an independent contractor and not an employee. The key here, and what Lively's team has already pointed out, is that Judge Lewis Liman didn't rule that the allegations were false, rather most just weren't legally viable under employment law.
While Baldoni's team is likely celebrating—now only having to fight against claims of breach of contract, retaliation, and aiding and abetting retaliation—, Lively's team is scrambling to rebuild her case ahead of the trial. In a statement released to People, Sigrid McCawley, a member of Lively's legal team, said that the sexual harassment claims dismissal was "not because the defendants did nothing wrong but because the court determined Blake Lively was an independent contractor, not an employee."
"This case has always been and will remain focused on the devasting [sic] retaliation and the extraordinary steps the defendants took to destroy Blake Lively’s reputation because she stood up for safety on the set and that is the case that is going to trial," the statement concludes.
Social Media Reactions
Across social media platforms, many users on Justin Baldoni's side of the lawsuit went as far as to liken Lively to Amber Heard, who lost a legal battle against Johnny Depp after she defamed him in a Washington Post article. "First it was Amber and now Blake!" one user wrote on Instagram.
"Justice for Justin finally came," another person commented.
"Team Justin!" another said. "Let's go! Praying him and his family can keep moving forward in peace!"
"Some reputations don't need destroying—they reveal themselves," another added.
"This case was absurd from the beginning," one comment reads, "She and her husband are the powerful ones, Justin wouldn't have lasted even two days if he 'harassed' BL. I'm glad that everything is clarified and justice is done for JB."
"We know what Blake really is!" a final user wrote. "Justice for Justin!"
