Blake Lively is making headlines with a major update in her legal battle against Justin Baldoni. In newly filed court documents, the actress moved to drop a key claim tied to her 2024 lawsuit, which accused Baldoni of sexual harassment and retaliation during the production of It Ends With Us.
Here’s what the documents reveal about the decision of Blake Lively, the response from the legal team of Justin Baldoni, and what this means for the upcoming trial.
Blake Lively drops key claim in Justin Baldoni court case
Blake Lively has requested to withdraw her claims of intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress against co-star and director Justin Baldoni. She filed the motion on June 2, 2025, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. Court records show she wants to drop the charges without prejudice, allowing her to refile them later.
The filing came after Baldoni’s legal team asked her to sign a HIPAA release for access to her medical and mental health records. His attorney, Kevin Fritz, claimed Lively “refuses to disclose the information and documents needed to disprove that she suffered any emotional distress” and is trying to keep the option of reviving the claims after discovery ends (via People.)
Lively’s legal team, Esra Hudson and Mike Gottlieb, responded to the development by stating, “This is a routine part of the litigation process that is being used as a press stunt.” They emphasized that her legal team is “preparing [the] case for trial by streamlining and focusing it,” while Baldoni’s side is “desperately seeking another tired round of tabloid coverage.”
Despite withdrawing the charges, Lively still alleges emotional distress in her broader claims, including sexual harassment and retaliation. Her December 2024 complaint accuses Baldoni of causing severe emotional harm. She also alleges that he exposed her to nude images and launched a smear campaign.
In January, Justin Baldoni countersued Blake Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds for $400 million, alleging defamation and extortion. The court scheduled the trial for March 2026. It has yet to rule on Lively’s request to withdraw the emotional distress charges.
Originally reported by Vritti Johar on ComingSoon.net.
