In a major pre-trial setback for Blake Lively, a judge has dismissed her fat-shaming and sexual harassment claims against Justin Baldoni, ruling they “could not reasonably support a claim,” leaving her with only three remaining claims—breach of contract, retaliation, and aiding and abetting retaliation—as the trial approaches on May 18 in New York City.
Judge Lewis Liman determined that Lively, 39, was an independent contractor rather than an employee, meaning key protections under labor and civil rights laws did not apply. He also found that the Actor Loanout Agreement (ALA), which she cited in her sexual harassment claims, was never validly executed, and therefore could not form the basis of a lawsuit. The judge further concluded that her allegations of fat-shaming—such as Baldoni asking about her weight and introducing her to a specialist in probiotics—did not constitute discrimination, noting that Lively had actively embraced a “certain aesthetic” for the film and controlled much of her own preparation and schedule.
While Judge Liman acknowledged that some incidents could arguably be perceived as retaliatory, he emphasized that the vast majority of her claims failed to meet the legal threshold for sexual harassment or hostile work environment. The ruling represents a major victory for Baldoni and his team, leaving Lively with a significantly narrowed case as the contentious lawsuit moves toward trial.
The decision comes after more than a year of legal battles, with Lively initially accusing Baldoni and his collaborators of sexual harassment, retaliation, and intentional infliction of emotional distress during the filming of It Ends With Us. Despite the film’s box office success, the lawsuit has cast a long shadow over its release, and both parties now prepare for the next stage of this high-profile courtroom drama.
