Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni agree to end lengthy legal battle

Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni settle dispute, ending years-long feud. Photo / Getty Images

Actor Blake Lively and It Ends with Us co-star Justin Baldoni have settled their acrimonious court battle, sparked when Lively accused Baldoni of inappropriate on-set behaviour, meaning they will avoid a costly civil trial.

US entertainment media, including People and Variety reported that lawyers for the two stars, who have been embroiled in a years-long public spat, had agreed to settle the case, with no settlement figure publicly disclosed.

Lively’s initial complaint had said Baldoni – who also directed the film – had spoken inappropriately about his sex life and sought to alter the film to include sex scenes that were not in the script and had not been agreed to.

It also said producer Jamey Heath had watched Lively while she was topless, despite having been asked to turn away. It further said Baldoni waged a PR campaign to wreck Lively’s 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,” Baldoni and Lively’s attorneys said in a joint statement reported by US media.

“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.”

Baldoni and the studio Wayfarer had previously countersued Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds with claims of extortion and defamation – but a judge dismissed those claims last year.

Wayfarer previously insisted that neither the studio, its executives, nor its PR team did anything to retaliate against Lively.

A judge dismissed some of Lively’s claims, but upheld her allegations of retaliation, which would have proceeded to trial on May 18.

Based on a best-selling novel by the US writer Colleen Hoover, It Ends with Us made more than US$350 million ($596m) at the box office in 2024, making it one of the biggest hits of the year.

– Agence France-Presse