It ends with a settlement. The long-running legal feud between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni has officially come to a close, with both parties reaching a settlement just weeks before their scheduled court showdown — and only hours before Lively stepped onto the Met Gala carpet in a symbolic reappearance after largely laying low throughout the lawsuit ordeal.
According to reports from Deadline, People and Variety, the settlement resolves the explosive dispute tied to the 2024 film It Ends With Us, in which Baldoni directed and starred opposite Lively.
The conflict escalated publicly in late 2024 after Lively accused Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios of sexual harassment, retaliation and orchestrating an online smear campaign. Baldoni denied the allegations and responded with lawsuits of his own, including defamation claims against Lively, Ryan Reynolds and The New York Times.
The legal battle quickly became one of Hollywood’s most public celebrity disputes, fueled by leaked text messages, PR accusations and intense online discourse surrounding the film’s troubled rollout. Several of Lively’s claims were dismissed earlier this year, though remaining retaliation and contract-related claims had still been heading toward trial before the surprise settlement was finalized.
Neither side disclosed financial details of the agreement, though attorneys for both parties publicly framed the outcome as a victory. Baldoni’s lawyer Bryan Freedman said the actor was “ecstatic” to move on from the case, while Lively’s legal team described the settlement as vindication for the actress.
Hours after the announcement, Lively appeared at the Met Gala in an archival Atelier Versace gown featuring a dramatic 13-foot train inspired by Venetian Rococo artwork. Her appearance drew immediate attention given the timing, with her attorney later describing the decision to attend as part of moving forward publicly after months of scrutiny.