Judge Dismisses Sexual Harassment Claims in Blake Lively's Lawsuit Against Justin Baldoni

A U.S. federal judge has dismissed sexual harassment allegations brought by actress Blake Lively against her co-star and director Justin Baldoni. The ruling, issued by Judge Lewis Liman in Manhattan on April 3, 2026, also rejected claims of defamation and conspiracy. The dismissal was based on legal technicalities, specifically that federal law cited by Lively applies to employees but not independent contractors, which was her status during the production of the romantic drama 'Jamais plus.' However, other parts of Lively's lawsuit, including accusations of retaliation and contract breach, remain valid and are set for a trial scheduled to begin on May 18. The case stems from incidents during the filming of 'Jamais plus,' a 2024 box-office hit adapted from a Colleen Hoover novel. Lively alleged that Baldoni made inappropriate comments about her sex life and attempted to add unapproved sex scenes to the film. She also claimed he conducted a campaign to damage her reputation. In response, Baldoni and the studio Wayfarer filed a countersuit against Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds for extortion and defamation, which was dismissed in 2025. Wayfarer has denied any retaliatory actions. The legal proceedings highlight ongoing issues of workplace conduct in the film industry, with the core dispute continuing despite the dismissal of certain charges.