Blake Lively has described her legal settlement with Justin Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios as a significant victory following the resolution of their dispute connected to the film It Ends With Us.
In a statement released on May 7, Lively’s attorneys called the agreement a “resounding victory” after a Notice of Settlement and Stipulation was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. The legal resolution came only weeks before the case was expected to go to trial in New York City.
Earlier statements from both legal teams confirmed that the parties had agreed to settle the highly publicized dispute. According to the settlement details, Lively still retains the right to pursue legal fees and damages against Baldoni and the Wayfarer parties. Their $400 million defamation countersuit against her had previously been dismissed by Judge Lewis J. Liman in June.
The agreement also references California Civil Code Section 47.1, which protects individuals who report sexual harassment or discrimination from retaliatory defamation lawsuits. Under the statute, Lively would need to demonstrate that she successfully defended against a defamation claim, that the lawsuit was connected to allegations of harassment or retaliation, and that her statements were made without malice.
Legal analysts have noted that the dismissal of the countersuit, along with wording used in both the original complaint and the recent joint statement, could strengthen Lively’s legal position. Her attorneys pointed to language in the joint statement acknowledging that her concerns “deserved to be heard,” arguing that this undermines claims that she fabricated allegations of sexual harassment or retaliation.
Both sides previously expressed hope that the settlement would allow everyone involved to move forward peacefully and constructively. A source close to Lively stated that the case was never about financial compensation for her, but rather about bringing attention to individuals she believed were harming others.
