Jess Hardiman
Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni have settled their lawsuit over the drama from filming It Ends With Us, following a lengthy, drawn-out feud.
In an emotional joint statement, issued today (Monday 4 May), lawyers for Lively and Baldoni said: "Raising awareness, and making a meaningful impact in the lives of domestic violence survivors - and all survivors - is a goal that we stand behind.
"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."
The statement added that they 'acknowledge the process presented challenges and recognize concerns raised by Ms Lively deserved to be heard', but said the film remains 'a source of pride' to everyone who worked to 'bring it to life'.
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By settling the case, the pair have avoided a forthcoming trial, which was due to start later this month and was expected to see both testify.
The terms of the settlement have not been disclosed.
The highly publicised profile row started back in December 2024, when Lively filed a lawsuit accusing Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios, of sexual harassment and retaliation.
In her lawsuit, Lively claimed that Baldoni made inappropriate comments about her appearance, violated physical boundaries while filming an intimate scene and pushed for nudity against her wishes.
Baldoni denied the accusations and in turn filed a counter-suit, claiming Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds had orchestrated a smear campaign against him.
Both stars have had some of their claims thrown out by the judge, including Lively’s sexual harassment claims, which were dismissed in early April by Judge Lewis J Liman.
He ruled that she couldn't pursue them under federal law because, at the time of working on the film, she was an independent contractor rather than an employee.
Judge Liman acknowledged the complexity of the matter, noting how creative artists 'must have some amount of space to experiment within the bounds of an agreed script without fear of being held liable for sexual harassment'.
Meanwhile, Baldoni's lawsuit was dismissed last June after the judge ruled that the director couldn't sue Lively for defamation over claims she made in her lawsuit, because allegations made in a lawsuit are exempt from libel claims.