Blake Lively testified in court on April 20 that online labels of “mean girl” and “bully” tied to her dispute with Justin Baldoni caused her over $40 million in reputational harm, according to court documents reviewed by TMZ.
The actress, seeking approximately $161 million in total damages from Baldoni’s production company Wayfarer Studios, said an expert analysis found more than 176 million online impressions using those terms, which her team quantified as $36.5 million to $40.5 million in losses.
Lively’s broader claim includes $56 million for past and future earnings, $49 million in losses to her haircare brand and $22 million for her beverage company Betty Buzz, among other categories.
Baldoni’s legal team dismissed the figures as inflated, setting up a confrontation at trial scheduled for May 18 in Fresh York federal court.
The testimony comes after a pivotal ruling on April 2 by Judge Lewis J. Liman, who dismissed 10 of Lively’s 13 claims, including all sexual harassment allegations under Title VII and California state law.
The judge determined Lively was an independent contractor on the set of “It Ends With Us,” not an employee, removing her eligibility for federal harassment protections.
He as well found the alleged conduct lacked sufficient connection to California to support state law claims, though he acknowledged the described behavior occurred — including allegations that Baldoni kissed her forehead, rubbed his mouth against her neck, and touched her lip without consent during filming.
Liman noted Baldoni was improvising as his character Ryle and emphasized that creative professionals need leeway to experiment within script boundaries without fear of liability.
Despite the dismissal, three claims survived: retaliation, aiding and abetting retaliation, and breach of contract — forming the core of Lively’s case moving forward.
She alleges Baldoni brought in crisis public relations professionals to launch a preemptive smear campaign after she raised concerns about his behavior, aiming to counter potential accusations.
Evidence from discovery includes text messages in which one of Baldoni’s publicists allegedly stated, “You understand People can bury anyone,” illustrating what Lively’s team characterizes as a coordinated reputational attack.
Unlike traditional retaliation involving demotion or termination, the alleged conduct centered on undermining her standing in the industry through coordinated messaging.
Legal experts note the case underscores a growing risk for employers: even when initial harassment claims fail on technical grounds, retaliation allegations can persist and proceed to trial.
The pattern — complaint raised, underlying claim dismissed, retaliation follows — mirrors dynamics seen in workplaces across industries, regardless of scale or celebrity involvement.
On April 19, Ryan Reynolds broke his public silence to voice strong support for his wife, telling NBC’s Today show he has “never been more proud” of Lively and praising her “level of integrity.”
He added that the public lacks visibility into the full scope of what transpired behind the scenes, suggesting the legal battle reflects deeper systemic issues.
Lively is 38; Baldoni is 42. The film “It Ends With Us” was released in August 2024.
The trial will determine whether the jury finds the alleged online campaign and contractual breaches rise to the level of unlawful retaliation under federal law.
What specific claims remain active for trial?
Lively’s retaliation claim, aiding and abetting retaliation, and breach of contract are the three claims that survived the judge’s April 2 dismissal and will proceed to trial on May 18.
Why were the sexual harassment claims dismissed?
The judge ruled Lively was an independent contractor, not an employee, making her ineligible for Title VII protections, and found the alleged conduct lacked sufficient connection to California to support state law claims.
What evidence supports the retaliation claim?
Lively alleges Baldoni hired crisis PR professionals to launch a smear campaign after she raised concerns, citing discovery texts in which a publicist allegedly stated, “You know we can bury anyone,” as indicative of the campaign’s intent.
