Blake Lively Withdraws Emotional Distress Claims in High-Profile Film Lawsuit
Blake Lively has pulled back from one of the more explosive allegations in her ongoing legal face-off with Justin Baldoni, the director of ‘It Ends With Us.’ The actress dropped all claims related to intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress after Baldoni’s legal team demanded access to her medical and therapy records. It’s a dramatic turn in a lawsuit already loaded with Hollywood intrigue, serious accusations, and bold counterclaims.
This all began when Lively filed a lawsuit against Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios, asserting that she was subjected to sexual harassment during the making of their film. In response, Baldoni hit back hard, accusing Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, of orchestrating a campaign to tarnish his reputation, leveling claims of defamation, civil extortion, and breach of contract.
The turning point in the case came after Baldoni’s lawyers, headed by attorney Kevin Fritz, filed a motion insisting that if Lively was claiming she suffered severe emotional distress, she had to hand over medical evidence—therapy notes and mental health records included. They made it clear that you can't have it both ways: either show what impact this ordeal had, or back down from that part of your story.
Lively’s legal team pushed back, calling this tactic nothing more than a "press stunt," suggesting Baldoni’s lawyers wanted headlines more than facts. They believed these demands were just a ploy to fish for information and keep the courtroom drama in the spotlight. But with discovery rules tightening the screws, and the judge pressing for proof or a pullback, Lively’s lawyers decided to drop the distress claims altogether. That move led U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman to dismiss these allegations with prejudice—basically closing the door on Lively ever raising them in this lawsuit again.
For those watching from the outside, this battle is about more than bruised feelings or confidential paperwork. It’s about public image, power, and the struggle for credibility in the glare of the entertainment industry. Lawyers on both sides have turned up the heat, not just in the filings, but in the press, framing the case as everything from a calculated attack to a righteous stand.
Hollywood Feud Shows No Signs of Cooling Down
The emotional distress claims may be off the table, but the rest of the court fight is still very much alive. Lively’s sexual harassment allegations remain at the core, while Baldoni’s side is swinging back with accusations that range from damaging his reputation to twisting contract obligations for personal gain.
This isn’t just any lawsuit: it’s a pitched battle where both sides are acutely aware of the stakes, both professional and personal. The production of ‘It Ends With Us’ is now overshadowed by legal filings, statements to the media, and the risk that private lives could be dragged further into public view. And with emotional distress now out of the equation, the legal drama is set to focus even more sharply on what actually happened during the production and the fallout that followed.
The judge’s decision to dismiss the emotional distress claims sent a clear message: allegations need hard evidence, and the courtroom isn’t a place for half-measures or shadowboxing. But in a high-profile Hollywood dispute like this, you can bet both sides will keep swinging—for reputation, for vindication, and, ultimately, for their own version of the truth.
