Blake Lively is speaking out after a major court ruling in her legal fight with Justin Baldoni. A federal judge dismissed 10 of the 13 claims she filed against her It Ends With Us co-star and director. But Lively says the fight is not over. She is now focusing on what she calls “digital violence” and the harm it causes.
The case started in December 2024 when Lively accused Baldoni of sexual harassment and running a secret campaign to destroy her reputation. Now, with the trial set for May 18, 2026, only three claims remain. Lively shared a powerful statement on Instagram, telling her followers that the pain from online abuse is very real.
Judge Dismisses Most Claims Against Baldoni
On April 2, 2026, Judge Lewis Liman of the federal court in New York issued a 152-page ruling. He dismissed the majority of Lively’s lawsuit against Baldoni. The thrown-out claims include sexual harassment, defamation, conspiracy, and emotional distress.
The three claims that will go to trial are:
- Breach of contract
- Retaliation
- Aiding and abetting in retaliation
Judge Liman ruled that Lively could not move forward with sexual harassment claims under federal law. The reason was she worked as an independent contractor on the film, not an employee. The movie also filmed in New Jersey, not California, which changed which laws applied to her case.
Lively’s lawyers argued that Baldoni “kissed, nuzzled and touched” her without consent and made unwanted comments about her weight and appearance. But the judge said those claims did not meet the legal requirements to continue.
Lively’s Emotional Statement on Online Abuse
After the ruling, Lively posted a long statement on her Instagram Stories on April 3, 2026. She did not hide her feelings. She said she is grateful that part of her case will still be heard by a jury.
“The last thing I wanted in my life was a lawsuit, but I brought this case because of the pervasive RETALIATION I faced, and continue to, for privately and professionally asking for a safe working environment for myself and others.”
Lively warned people not to call her case just “celebrity drama.” She said that kind of talk keeps others from seeing the real problem.
“The physical pain from digital violence is very real. It is abuse. And it’s everywhere. Not just in the news, but in your communities and schools.”
She pointed out that online abuse affects everyone, including women and children. Lively shared that studies show between 16% and 58% of women have faced online abuse or stalking. She also said 97% of gender-based violence service providers report seeing technology-facilitated abuse in their cases.
Baldoni’s Team Responds to Court Decision
Justin Baldoni’s lawyers welcomed the judge’s decision. They said they were pleased that the sexual harassment claims were dismissed.
Attorneys Alexandra Shapiro and Jonathan Bach released a statement saying, “These were very serious allegations, and we are grateful to the Court for its careful review of the facts, law and voluminous evidence that was provided.”
They added, “What’s left is a significantly narrowed case, and we look forward to presenting our defense to the remaining claims in court.”
Baldoni has always denied the accusations. His team previously argued that Lively knew the movie would have “hot and sexy scenes” when she signed on to play the lead role.
Candace Owens Comments on the Ruling
Political commentator Candace Owens also reacted to the news. On April 3, 2026, she posted on X, “Everybody please congratulate me on Blake Lively’s psycho claims about Justin Baldoni being dismissed. We worked really hard on that one. In the end, truth wins.”
Owens has been connected to the case before. In July 2025, Lively’s legal team sent a subpoena to Owens over her online comments about the actress. Owens denied being paid to take a side. She said on her YouTube channel, “I truly looked at this lawsuit when it all came out in January, and I just thought that you were a bad person. Truly, from the bottom of my heart, I think you and Ryan are bad people.”
WME Supports Lively After the Ruling
Lively’s agency, WME, which dropped Baldoni after the accusations came out, issued a statement supporting her. The agency said Lively has helped expose the harm caused by secret online attacks.
“In an industry that too often asks women to absorb the damage and stay quiet, Blake Lively chose to stand up for herself, her castmates, and those without the ability to fight back,” WME’s statement read.
The agency added that she has met this situation with courage and moral clarity. WME confirmed they support her fully as the case moves to trial.
What Remains of the Legal Fight
The trial is set for May 18, 2026, in New York City. The focus will be on whether Baldoni and his team ran a retaliation campaign against Lively. She claims they spread negative stories about her online after she complained about the work environment on set.
Lively’s lawyer, Sigrid McCawley, explained that the sexual harassment claims were dismissed for a legal reason, not because nothing happened. “Sexual harassment isn’t going forward not because the defendants did nothing wrong but because the court determined Blake Lively was an independent contractor, not an employee,” McCawley said.
McCawley also said Lively looks forward to testifying. “She looks forward to testifying at trial and continuing to shine a light on this vicious form of online retaliation so that it becomes easier to detect and fight.”
Settlement Talks Did Not Work
Before the judge’s ruling, both sides tried to settle. A court-ordered settlement conference took place in February 2026. But the talks did not work. The magistrate judge has now ordered both sides to call in on April 6, 2026, to discuss their updated settlement positions.
The failed settlement means the case will likely go to trial unless something changes at the last minute.
The Movie Behind the Dispute
It Ends With Us came out in 2024. The movie, based on Colleen Hoover’s popular novel, made over $350 million around the world. It tells the story of a flower shop owner trapped in an abusive relationship.
But the film’s success got overshadowed by the legal fight between its two stars. The case revealed private text messages between Lively and other famous friends like Taylor Swift and Ben Affleck. In one message to Swift, Lively called Baldoni the “doofus director of my movie.”
Swift reportedly replied, “I’ll do anything for you!”
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Lively’s Promise to Keep Fighting
Lively ended her statement with a promise to keep fighting. She said she knows it is a privilege to be able to stand up, and she will not waste it.
“I will never stop doing my part to expose the systems and people who seek to harm, shame, silence and retaliate against victims,” she wrote. “Your support keeps me going.”
The case continues. For now, only the retaliation and contract claims remain. The trial starts in May, and both sides are getting ready to tell their stories in court.
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