Blake Lively and director Justin Baldoni have reached a settlement in their lawsuit over the production of the 2024 film It Ends With Us, ending a legal dispute that had gripped Hollywood for more than a year.
The agreement was announced on Monday, two weeks before the case was scheduled to go to trial on 18 May.
Lively filed an administrative complaint with the California Civil Rights Department in December 2024, alleging that Baldoni had sexually harassed her on set and subsequently coordinated a smear campaign against her through a crisis PR firm following the film’s release.
It Ends With Us, based on Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel and directed by Baldoni, who also starred in the film alongside Lively, grossed over $347 million globally at the box office.
What was settled and what the parties said
Of the 13 original allegations Lively brought against Baldoni, a judge dismissed 10 last month, leaving three claims to proceed to trial: breach of contract, retaliation, and aiding and abetting retaliation.
The settlement resolves all three. Terms were not disclosed, and as reported by Deadline, it appears no money is changing hands.
The parties issued a joint statement through their attorneys.
“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,” the statement read.
The statement acknowledged that “the process presented challenges and recognise concerns raised by Ms. Lively deserved to be heard,” and expressed commitment to “workplaces free of improprieties.”
Neither side’s legal representatives offered further comment.
What the settlement means for both careers
The settlement clears the immediate legal horizon for both Baldoni and Lively ahead of what would have been a highly publicised trial. Baldoni’s production company, Wayfarer Studios, was named in the original complaint.
Both parties are expected to return focus to active projects, though no new film announcements have been made by either.
The case played out with significant public attention, dividing audiences and the Colleen Hoover fan community that had championed the film following its release.
The allegations against Baldoni became public in late 2024, generating months of commentary across entertainment media and social platforms.
The joint statement offers carefully worded language rather than any substantive admission or exoneration from either side.
The public conversation around what happened during the production of It Ends With Us is unlikely to conclude with this settlement, particularly given the absence of formal findings. Industry observers will be watching closely to see whether either party addresses the case in more detail once the confidentiality pressures of litigation no longer apply.
