Hollywood actress Blake Lively and her It Ends With Us co-star Justin Baldoni have reached a settlement in their long-running legal dispute, avoiding a civil trial that was scheduled to proceed soon.
According to a joint statement shared with AFP, both parties confirmed that the matter had been resolved, though no financial details were made public.
Lively had earlier accused Baldoni, who also directed the film, of inappropriate behaviour during production. Her claims included allegations that he made inappropriate remarks about his personal life, attempted to introduce unscripted sex scenes, and influenced production decisions beyond what was agreed.
She also alleged that producer Jamey Heath engaged in inappropriate conduct on set by observing her while she was topless, despite being instructed to turn away. Additionally, she claimed Baldoni orchestrated a public relations campaign aimed at damaging her reputation.
“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,” both sides said in the joint statement.
“We acknowledge the process presented challenges and recognise concerns raised by Ms. Lively deserved to be heard… It is our sincere hope that this brings closure and allows all involved to move forward constructively and in peace.”
Shortly after news of the settlement broke, Lively appeared at the Met Gala in New York, smiling as she wore a dramatic ball gown featuring flowing pink, purple, and yellow tulle.
Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios had previously filed a countersuit against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, accusing them of defamation and extortion. However, those claims were dismissed by a judge last year.
Wayfarer had maintained that neither the studio nor its representatives engaged in any retaliatory actions against Lively. While parts of Lively’s case were dismissed, her retaliation claims were allowed to proceed toward a trial scheduled for May 18 before the settlement was reached.
The film, adapted from Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel, grossed over $350 million in 2024, becoming one of the year’s biggest box office successes.
