Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni have settled their legal fight over It Ends With Us, ending a heavily watched Hollywood case two weeks before jury selection was scheduled to begin in New York. The deal resolves Lively’s remaining claims tied to retaliation and contract obligations, while keeping the settlement terms confidential. Both sides said through lawyers that they hope the agreement brings “closure” and allows those involved to move forward in peace.
The settlement closes a bitter dispute that grew out of the 2024 film’s production and promotion. Lively sued Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios and others at the end of 2024, accusing them of creating a sexually charged work atmosphere and then trying to damage her reputation after she raised concerns. Baldoni denied harassment and said Lively’s camp tried to seize control of the movie and harm his name. He later sued Lively, Ryan Reynolds and others for defamation and extortion; that case was dismissed in 2025.
The legal terrain had narrowed sharply before the settlement. On April 2, U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman dismissed most of Lively’s claims, including sexual harassment claims against Baldoni, while allowing retaliation claims against Wayfarer and It Ends With Us Movie LLC, an aiding-and-abetting retaliation claim against The Agency Group PR LLC, and a breach-of-contract claim against It Ends With Us Movie LLC to move ahead.
The trial still threatened to expose private communications, publicity tactics and competing accounts of what happened on set. At a hearing last week, lawyers fought over damages evidence, including an expert report from Lively’s side estimating large losses tied to reputation and earnings. Wayfarer’s lawyer rejected those figures as inflated. Both actors had been expected to testify if the case reached court.
The film, adapted from Colleen Hoover’s novel about domestic violence, grossed over $351 million worldwide and became a commercial hit while the offscreen conflict dominated attention around it. In their joint statement, the parties said the movie remains a source of pride and said Lively’s concerns “deserved to be heard,” while reaffirming support for workplaces free from impropriety.
