Additional Coverage:
New York City – A day-long settlement conference in a New York City courtroom on Wednesday failed to resolve the ongoing legal dispute between actors Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni. The co-stars of “It Ends With Us” spent six hours in separate courtrooms with their legal teams, attempting to reach an agreement ahead of their scheduled May 18 trial.
The court-ordered conference, a final attempt at resolution, saw a judge privately conferring with each side. However, no settlement was reached in the year-long legal battle.
Lively departed the courtroom Wednesday afternoon without speaking to reporters. Baldoni and his wife also declined to issue statements. When questioned about the resumption of settlement talks, Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, indicated his belief that the case is headed for trial, stating, “I’m looking forward to it.”
The legal saga began in December 2024 when Lively filed a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department, accusing Baldoni of sexual harassment on the set of “It Ends with Us.” She also alleged that Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios, engaged in a “social manipulation” campaign to “destroy” her reputation.
Subsequently, both actors filed lawsuits against each other in New York. Lively reiterated her earlier claims and accused Baldoni and Wayfarer of “unlawful, retaliatory astroturfing” to damage her reputation, seeking $500 million in damages. Baldoni’s attorney denied these allegations.
Shortly after Lively’s lawsuit, Baldoni filed a $400 million countersuit against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and their publicist, alleging extortion and defamation. He claimed Lively had “robbed” him of control over the film and destroyed his reputation. Lively’s lawyers denied these claims, characterizing Baldoni’s suit as “another chapter in the abuser playbook.”
Baldoni’s counterclaim was dismissed by a federal judge in New York last June, and the dismissal became final in October after he did not refile an amended complaint. The May 18 trial date looms as the next significant development in this high-profile legal battle.