Blake Lively reportedly drops charges of 'emotional distress' against Justin Baldoni

Blake Lively’s legal team has reportedly moved to drop claims of ‘emotional distress’ from the actress’ lawsuit against her former It Ends With Us co-star, Justin Baldoni. In a court filing made on Monday, June 2, Baldoni’s legal team claimed that Lively’s lawyers made it known to them in writing that the actress is seeking to withdraw the allegations of ‘infliction of emotional distress’ made against Baldoni, according to Variety.

According to The Independent, the filing by Baldoni’s lawyers states:

“Instead of complying with the Medical RFPs, Ms. Lively’s counsel recently advised us, in writing, that Ms. Lively is withdrawing her [infliction of emotional distress] Claims.”

The filing also referred to Baldoni’s production company, Wayfarer Pictures which is involved in the legal dispute between Lively and Baldoni.

Continuing, the filing noted:

“However, Ms. Lively has refused the Wayfarer Parties’ reasonable request that the withdrawal of such claims be with prejudice. She is only willing to withdraw her claims without prejudice.”

The filing made note of the fact that if Lively’s claims are withdrawn “without prejudice,” they could be filed again in the future, according to Parade Magazine.

According to The Independent, the filing by Baldoni’s lawyers also stated:

“In other words, Ms. Lively wants to simultaneously: (a) refuse to disclose the information and documents needed to disprove that she suffered any emotional distress and/or that the Wayfarer Parties were the cause; and (b) maintain the right to re-file her IED Claims at an unknown time in this or some other court after the discovery window has closed.”

What were the allegations of ‘emotional distress’ made by Blake Lively against Justin Baldoni?

In December 2024, Blake Lively filed a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department, claiming that she underwent “severe emotional distress” during the production of It Ends With Us, during which period, she also alleged that Justin Baldoni, who directed and produced the film alongside starring in it as Lively’s character’s love interest, s*xually harassed her and launched a campaign to destroy her reputation, according to ABC News.

As per the news outlet, Baldoni retaliated soon after by filing a lawsuit against The New York Times which had published communications between Baldoni and his publicists.

According to The New York Post, the lawsuit was followed by the Another Simple Favor actress filing her own lawsuit seeking damages against Baldoni, in which she alleged that she suffered:

“severe emotional distress and pain, humiliation, embarrassment, belittlement, frustration and mental anguish”

According to the publication, Lively also alleged in the lawsuit that she suffered lost wages.

Blake Lively’s lawyers on Baldoni’s lawyers’ most recent court filing

Esra Hudson and Mike Gottlieb, Lively’s lawyers responded to the filing made by Justin Baldoni’s legal team revealing that Blake Lively is considering dropping claims of ‘emotional distress’ against the actor. The lawyers, as per Variety, said,

“The Baldoni-Wayfarer strategy of filing retaliatory claims has exposed them to expansive new damages claims under California law, rendering certain of Ms. Lively’s original claims no longer necessary.”

Shedding light on the status of Lively’s lawsuit, the lawyers said,

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“Ms. Lively continues to allege emotional distress, as part of numerous other claims in her lawsuit, such as sexual harassment and retaliation, and massive additional compensatory damages on all of her claims.”

For now, it remains to be seen what legal steps are taken next in the wide-ranging conflict between Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively.

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