Blake Lively Drops Emotional Distress Claims as Legal Fight With Justin Baldoni Intensifies

Blake Lively has moved to drop two key claims in her ongoing legal battle with director Justin Baldoni. These include allegations of intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligent infliction of emotional distress. The dispute began in December 2024 when Lively sued Baldoni over alleged sexual harassment and a smear campaign during the production of It Ends With Us. Baldoni’s legal team has since requested access to Lively’s medical and therapy records to challenge the validity of her emotional distress claims.

Court Debates Claim Dismissal as Lively Refines Case Amid Ongoing Legal Tensions

With Lively’s withdrawal request now on the table, the court must determine whether to dismiss the claims or compel her to release personal mental health information. According to court documents, Baldoni’s lawyers noted that Lively is attempting to withdraw her claims without prejudice, which would allow her to refile them later. The defense has pushed for a dismissal with prejudice to prevent this possibility, but Lively’s legal team has resisted, framing the request as strategic rather than evasive.

Lively’s attorneys have criticized Baldoni’s team, labeling the court filing a “press stunt” designed for public manipulation rather than legal necessity. They maintain that their decision is part of a broader legal strategy to “streamline and focus” Lively’s lawsuit. Her team also claims that Baldoni and his company, Wayfarer, filed retaliatory claims, prompting them to restructure the case. Despite dropping specific distress claims, Lively still alleges emotional suffering within other active allegations, including sexual harassment and retaliation.

Baldoni’s Counter-Suit Expands Case, Taylor Swift Briefly Entangled in Legal Dispute

In response to Lively’s lawsuit, Baldoni filed a counter-suit in January 2025 targeting both Lively and her husband, actor Ryan Reynolds. His claims include civil extortion, defamation, and invasion of privacy. The legal conflict stems from their collaboration on It Ends With Us, a film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel. Lively played the lead role of Lily Bloom, a woman who confronts domestic abuse, mirroring real-life tensions behind the scenes of the film’s production.

Unexpectedly, singer Taylor Swift was briefly dragged into the legal conflict when she was subpoenaed over claims that she influenced script changes in Baldoni’s film. Swift’s legal team denied any involvement, stating she had no creative input on the project.

The subpoena was ultimately dropped two weeks later after objections from her lawyers, who called it an “unwarranted fishing expedition.” The celebrity-driven dispute continues to unfold, with the court’s next decisions likely to influence the direction and scope of the remaining case.