Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni are done fighting

Two weeks before the opening of their federal trial, the actress and the Jamais Plus actor reached an amicable agreement.

Just before heading to the Met Gala red carpet, Blake Lively settled scores with Justin Baldoni.

End clap for one of the most scrutinized legal dramas in Hollywood. After a year and a half of fierce battle in court and in the media, Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni have reached an amicable agreement, just two weeks before the opening of their federal trial. So everything is settled… far from the judges.

At the origin of the conflict: the filming of Jamais Plus: it Ends With Usa summer 2024 hit in theaters, in which Justin Baldoni, also a director, opposite Blake Lively. The actress accused the latter of sexual harassment on set, claiming that after reporting the facts, she would have been the target of a smear campaign orchestrated by his communications team. In a carefully worded joint press release, the two parties demonstrated their desire to turn the page:

“The end result – the film Never Again – is a source of pride for everyone who helped bring it to life. Raising awareness and making a real impact in the lives of survivors of domestic violence, and all survivors, remains a goal we share. We recognize that this process has been difficult and that the concerns raised by Ms. Lively deserved to be heard. We remain fully committed to healthy and respectful work environments. We hope this agreement allows everyone to move forward moving forward, in a constructive and peaceful spirit, including online.”

This agreement comes about a month after a key decision by Judge Lewis Liman, who dismissed 10 of the 13 charges filed by Blake Lively, including all harassment charges. There remained three points to be decided before a jury: retaliation, complicity in retaliation and breach of contract. At the time, the actress’s lawyer, Sigrid McCawley, already hinted at a negotiated outcome, believing that her client had achieved her main objective: to expose what she described as a real “defamation machine“. For her part, Blake Lively said on Instagram: “The last thing I wanted in my life was a lawsuit, but I took this action because of the constant retaliation I faced for demanding a safe work environment. I hope this decision shows others that it is possible to speak up, as painful as it may be.”

The legal war was triggered in December 2024, when Blake Lively seized the Californian civil rights authorities. At the same time, an investigation by New York Times revealed exchanges from Justin Baldoni’s team, discussing strategies to counter the accusations and claiming to be able to “bury” anyone in the media. In response, Justin Baldoni countersued with a defamation complaint, accusing the actress of sabotaging her reputation with false accusations in order to appropriate the film. A complaint ultimately rejected. After months of proceedings and exchanges of arms, most of the accusations were dismissed for technical reasons. An epilogue without verdict, but not without traces for the two Hollywood stars.