In a major defeat for Blake Lively, a judge has dismissed all of her sexual harassment and fat-shaming claims against Justin Baldoni, effectively weakening her legal battle ahead of the highly anticipated trial. The ruling, delivered by Judge Lewis Liman on April 2, 2026, has left Lively with only three claims to pursue: breach of contract, retaliation, and aiding and abetting retaliation.
The legal saga between the It Ends With Us co-stars has been a rollercoaster of accusations, courtroom drama, and public scrutiny since it began in December 2024. The judge’s decision on Thursday dramatically reduced the scope of Lively’s case, leaving her with a much slimmer chance of success in the upcoming trial, scheduled to begin on May 18, 2026, in New York City.
A Crushing Legal Blow for Lively
The dismissal of Lively’s fat-shaming allegations was particularly devastating. The judge ruled that the claims, which stemmed from an alleged conversation about her weight between Baldoni and her personal trainer, could not “reasonably support a claim.” Additionally, the judge threw out all of Lively’s sexual harassment claims, further eroding the actress’s case.
Baldoni’s attorneys, Alexandra Shapiro and Jonathan Bach, expressed satisfaction with the ruling, stating, “We’re very pleased the Court dismissed all sexual harassment claims and every claim brought against the individual defendants.” They also acknowledged the serious nature of the allegations, but were grateful for the judge’s careful review of the evidence, which ultimately sided with their defense.
Lively’s Reduced Legal Ground
While Lively had hoped to move forward with claims involving sexual harassment on set and retaliation after raising concerns, the judge found that the legal contracts Lively cited were unenforceable, as she had never signed them. This was a key blow, as her arguments were based on provisions in agreements like the Actor Loanout Agreement (ALA), which the judge deemed invalid due to its lack of proper execution.
In a scathing part of the ruling, Judge Liman noted that the ALA could not be considered binding because it was never fully agreed upon by both parties. He wrote, “Lively fails to confront what is the central dilemma in her claim… She contends that the ALA became binding on IEWUM at some point while the parties were still negotiating it, but she cannot pinpoint a time when the parties began to be bound by it.”
The Fallout and Public Reactions
The legal defeat has sparked a wave of reactions, with many questioning Lively’s motivations and the evidence behind her claims. Some commentators have speculated that the dismissal of the fat-shaming and sexual harassment claims could suggest that Lively’s legal team may have overreached in their allegations.
In her lawsuit, Lively had accused Baldoni of crossing professional boundaries during filming, including kissing her without consent during a scene where the script did not call for it, as well as entering her trailer while she was breastfeeding. However, the judge found that these claims did not hold up under scrutiny, dismissing the allegations as “not sufficiently supported by evidence.”
A Reduced Case and a Fractured Public Image
The decision to dismiss most of Lively’s claims has left her with a significantly reduced case. While the actress still has the opportunity to argue claims of retaliation and aiding and abetting retaliation, these are considerably less impactful than the original accusations of sexual harassment and fat-shaming. The court’s ruling has effectively neutralized much of the public support Lively had garnered, and many have now turned their attention to her remaining claims.
Despite this, Lively’s legal team, led by Sigrid McCawley, has vowed to press on, stating that the case will continue to focus on the retaliation Lively faced after standing up for safety on set. “This case has always been and will remain focused on the devastating retaliation and the extraordinary steps the defendants took to destroy Blake Lively’s reputation,” McCawley said. She added that Lively’s decision to continue with the case was driven by a desire to expose the tactics used against her.
What’s Next for Lively and Baldoni?
The ruling is a major setback for Lively, but the trial is far from over. With only a fraction of her original claims still standing, the pressure now rests on Lively’s team to present a strong case for retaliation. As the trial date approaches, all eyes will be on May 18, 2026, when Lively and Baldoni face off in court once again.
As for Baldoni, the ruling has solidified his position as the victor in this legal battle. His team remains confident that the remaining claims against him will be easily dismantled in court. The actor and filmmaker, who had been embroiled in months of media scrutiny, now seems poised for a major legal victory.
