Blake Lively did not win her lawsuit against Justin Baldoni in any clear sense. The case ended in a May 2026 settlement two weeks before trial, with no financial payout to Lively and after a federal judge had already dismissed 10 of her 13 claims. A separate June 2026 ruling did order Baldoni’s side to cover her attorney fees on the defamation portion of the fight, which is the closest thing to a win she came away with.
What Lively Actually Got From the Settlement
On May 4, 2026, Lively and Baldoni announced a settlement resolving the three claims still standing: retaliation under California law, aiding and abetting retaliation, and breach of the contract rider tied to set-safety provisions.1Variety. Blake Lively Justin Baldoni Settle Lawsuit
The joint statement said the filmmaking “process presented challenges” and that “concerns raised by Ms. Lively deserved to be heard,” while calling the film “a source of pride to all of us.”1Variety. Blake Lively Justin Baldoni Settle Lawsuit According to reporting by the New York Times, Lively received no financial compensation as part of the settlement itself.2The New York Times. Blake Lively Legal Fees Ruling Justin Baldoni Settlement Page Six reported the two sides spent a combined $60 million in legal fees.3Page Six. The Real Cost of Blake Livelys Damaging Court Battle Against Justin Baldoni
One piece of the case was carved out of the settlement and left alive: Lively’s pending motion for attorney fees, treble damages, and punitive damages under California Civil Code Section 47.1. Both sides irrevocably waived their right to appeal whatever the judge decided on that motion.4Deadline. Blake Lively Settlement Details Justin Baldoni
Ten of Her Thirteen Claims Were Dismissed Before Trial
The reason there was so little left to settle traces to an April 2, 2026 ruling by Judge Lewis Liman of the Southern District of New York, who threw out 10 of Lively’s 13 claims.5U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York. Lively v. Wayfarer Studios, Opinion and Order
Her sexual harassment claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act were dismissed because the judge determined she was an independent contractor, not an employee, and Title VII only covers employees.6CBS News. Blake Lively Sexual Harassment Claims Justin Baldoni Her California Fair Employment and Housing Act harassment claims were tossed because filming took place in New Jersey, which the judge found lacked the “substantial connection” to California the statute requires. Defamation claims tied to public statements by Baldoni’s attorney were dismissed as protected speech. The judge wrote that the defendants were “entitled to engage public relations and crisis management specialists to protect their reputations.”7BBC. Blake Lively Justin Baldoni Lawsuit Claims Dismissed All claims against individual defendants, including Wayfarer CEO Jamey Heath, were effectively dismissed at this stage.5U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York. Lively v. Wayfarer Studios, Opinion and Order
The three claims allowed to proceed were retaliation under California law against Wayfarer Studios and its production entity, aiding and abetting retaliation against The Agency Group PR LLC, and breach of the Contract Rider Agreement against the production entity. The judge’s reasoning turned in part on the fact that a person does not need to be an employee to bring a FEHA retaliation claim, and that the alleged retaliatory acts were directed from California.5U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York. Lively v. Wayfarer Studios, Opinion and Order
Baldoni’s $400 Million Countersuit Was Also Thrown Out
Lively did have one clear courtroom win along the way. Baldoni filed a $400 million defamation and civil extortion suit against Lively and Ryan Reynolds on January 16, 2025.8Deadline. Blake Lively Justin Baldoni Feud Timeline Judge Liman dismissed it in June 2025, ruling that the statements Baldoni called defamatory were protected by litigation privilege because they appeared in a civil rights complaint, and that his allegations about Lively taking creative control of the film did not amount to extortion under California law.9Global News. Justin Baldoni Lawsuit Blake Lively Dismissed Baldoni and Wayfarer were given a chance to amend but missed the deadline, and on October 31, 2025, the judge entered final judgment closing the case.10Rolling Stone. Justin Baldoni Blake Lively Lawsuit Missed Deadline
The Attorney Fees Ruling
The one piece of the settlement that produced a concrete win for Lively came on June 12, 2026, when Judge Liman ruled on the Section 47.1 motion. He found that Lively qualified as a “prevailing defendant” under the California statute because Baldoni’s defamation claims against her had been dismissed and because she had made her sexual misconduct complaints “without malice.”2The New York Times. Blake Lively Legal Fees Ruling Justin Baldoni Settlement Under the law, the plaintiff who brought the defamation suit must cover the defendant’s legal fees and costs.
The judge ordered Baldoni’s side to pay Lively’s attorney fees related to defending the defamation claims, though the dollar amount had not been set. Deadline reported the fees are expected to run into the tens of millions. The judge denied her request for immediate treble damages and punitive damages, though the ruling “leaves the door open” for her to pursue those through a separate lawsuit or counterclaim. Her legal team said the May settlement “expressly preserves Ms. Lively’s rights to obtain those damages.”11Deadline. Blake Lively Attorney Fees Justin Baldoni Defamation Suit
How Each Side Framed the Result
Lively’s attorneys, Esra Hudson and Michael Gottlieb, called the settlement a “resounding victory,” saying the defendants’ acknowledgment that Lively’s concerns “deserved to be heard” ended the “fiction” that she had fabricated her claims. They described the pending Section 47.1 motion as a “ticking time bomb” that would force personal financial liability on Baldoni and the individual defendants.4Deadline. Blake Lively Settlement Details Justin Baldoni
Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, called it a “win and total victory for the Wayfarer parties,” pointing to the 10 dismissed claims and the absence of any payout. “In our view, they settled because they knew they were going to lose in court,” Freedman said.12Fox News. Justin Baldonis Team Claps Back Blake Lively Declaring Resounding Victory Settlement Legal commentator Eriq Gardner at Puck wrote that Baldoni appeared to come away with the “upper hand,” and that Lively appeared to get “cold feet” before trial after extensive discovery.13Puck. Yes the Blake Lively Justin Baldoni Case Has a Winner
The Career Damage on Both Sides
Whatever the legal ledger says, both careers took a hit. The Hollywood Reporter cited industry executives describing Lively’s brand as substantially damaged, with one studio executive estimating her per-film valuation dropped from roughly $12 million to $3 million. Lively’s own court filings had estimated the reputational damage from the alleged smear campaign cost her over $100 million in lost opportunities.14The Hollywood Reporter. Where Blake Lively Justin Baldoni Careers Stand
Baldoni faces what sources called a “tougher road back,” with casting directors and producers reluctant to work with someone associated with allegations of an unsafe set. He retains control of Wayfarer Studios, backed by billionaire Steve Sarowitz, giving him a path to self-finance future projects.14The Hollywood Reporter. Where Blake Lively Justin Baldoni Careers Stand Page Six reported the dispute also caused a rift in Lively’s friendship with Taylor Swift, who was subpoenaed as a witness, with sources indicating the two have had “no contact” since the litigation began. No gag order or nondisclosure agreement was included in the settlement, and Baldoni has reportedly indicated plans to publicly share his account of the dispute.3Page Six. The Real Cost of Blake Livelys Damaging Court Battle Against Justin Baldoni