Blake Lively is adjusting her legal strategy in her ongoing lawsuit against It Ends With Us co-star and director Justin Baldoni.
According to newly filed court documents obtained by Variety, Lively has moved to withdraw two key claims—intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligent infliction of emotional distress. The move comes after Baldoni’s legal team requested access to Lively’s medical records, including therapy notes, as part of their defense.
Lively’s attorneys say the withdrawal is strategic. In a statement to People, they described the decision as a “streamlining and focusing” of the case, allowing them to concentrate on more substantial claims, including sexual harassment and retaliation.
They emphasized that Lively still alleges emotional distress as part of her broader case and is seeking significant compensatory damages under California law.
Baldoni’s legal team, meanwhile, argued that the withdrawal should be “with prejudice”—a legal term that would prevent the claims from being refiled. Lively’s team declined to do so, keeping the door open for potential reintroduction of the claims at a later time.
The dispute began in December 2024, when Lively filed a lawsuit against Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios. In response, Baldoni filed a $400 million countersuit, accusing Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, of defamation, invasion of privacy, and civil extortion.
This latest development follows weeks of heightened scrutiny, including claims that Lively attempted to pressure longtime friend Taylor Swift into issuing public support. Baldoni’s attorney alleged in a court filing that Lively’s legal team threatened to release private messages between the two women. Lively’s lawyer, Mike Gottlieb, firmly denied the claim, calling it “categorically false” and “cowardly sourced.”
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Swift’s team has previously stated that the singer had no involvement in the film’s production and was only connected through the licensing of one song for the soundtrack.
The case has garnered significant public and media attention, with both sides accusing each other of manipulating the legal proceedings through the press. As the case progresses toward a scheduled trial in March 2026, both Lively and Baldoni are expected to testify.
While two of Lively’s original claims may now be off the table, the legal battle between the two continues to unravel, with new filings and developments expected in the coming months.
