Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni have reached a settlement in their legal dispute stemming from the troubled production of the 2024 film It Ends With Us, bringing an end to months of escalating courtroom battles just weeks before a highly anticipated trial was set to begin.
In a joint statement released on Monday, representatives for both parties emphasized the film’s broader purpose and the importance of its message. “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 read. “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 statement also acknowledged the tensions that arose during production. “We acknowledge the process presented challenges and recognize concerns raised by Ms Lively deserved to be heard,” it continued. “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.”
The terms of the settlement were not disclosed publicly.
The dispute dates back to December 2024, when Lively, who starred in the film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel accused Baldoni, who also directed and co-starred in the project, of sexual harassment and creating a hostile work environment during production. She further alleged that Baldoni’s production company, Wayfarer Studios, retaliated after she raised concerns about his alleged conduct.
According to her complaint, Lively accused Baldoni of “inserted improvised gratuitous sexual content” and orchestrating a “carefully crafted, coordinated and resourced retaliatory scheme” intended to silence her and others from speaking out.
Baldoni denied the allegations and filed a $400 million counter-defamation lawsuit against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, as well as a separate $250 million suit against The New York Times, following its report titled We Can Bury Anyone: Inside a Hollywood Smear Machine. He alleged that the couple attempted to damage his reputation and “seize control” of the film, also accusing them of extortion.
The legal battle saw multiple developments in 2025. Lively withdrew two claims of emotional distress in June, while a federal judge dismissed Baldoni’s lawsuit against Lively, Reynolds, and The New York Times. Earlier rulings also dismissed the majority of Lively’s claims, though several key allegations including breach of contract and retaliation remained before the case was ultimately resolved through settlement.
