When Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni teamed up for the film “It Ends With Us,” few could have predicted that the on-set collaboration would spiral into one of Hollywood’s most bitter legal battles. What began as a romantic drama has evolved into a real-life courtroom saga involving sexual harassment allegations, dueling defamation claims, and now a staggering demand for $161 million in damages.
According to newly filed court documents obtained by TMZ, Lively claims Baldoni — who directed and co-starred in the 2024 film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel — launched a “smear campaign” that caused her enormous personal and professional harm. Her legal team argues that the alleged campaign cost Lively tens of millions in lost earnings, endorsements, and business revenue, as well as irreparable damage to her reputation.
The Breakdown of Lively’s Damages
In the filing, Lively’s attorneys outline four major categories of losses totaling roughly $161 million:
- $56.2 million in lost acting, producing, endorsement, and public speaking income.
- $49 million in damage to her haircare company, Blake Brown.
- $22 million in losses tied to her beverage line, Betty Buzz and Betty Booze.
- $34 million in reputational harm, citing 65 million negative social media impressions linked to Baldoni’s alleged actions.
The lawsuit claims that Baldoni’s behavior during and after production — including what Lively describes as a campaign to discredit her in the media — derailed multiple business ventures and future creative projects.
(Photo by Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)
The Roots of the Legal Feud
Lively originally filed suit against Baldoni in 2024, accusing him of sexual harassment and misconduct during filming. She alleged that Baldoni made her uncomfortable on set by showing “nude videos,” discussing sexual encounters, and “fat-shaming” her appearance. According to her complaint, after she and her husband Ryan Reynolds confronted Baldoni about his behavior, the director retaliated by attempting to “destroy her reputation” during the movie’s press tour.
Baldoni denied all allegations and filed a $400 million countersuit, accusing Lively and Reynolds of defamation and claiming they had fabricated misconduct claims to ruin his career. That case was dismissed in June 2025 after a judge ruled that Baldoni could not sue for statements made in legal filings. He later missed an October 31 deadline to amend his complaint, effectively ending the countersuit.
What Comes Next
The latest development sets the stage for a high-profile courtroom showdown scheduled for March 2026, unless the two sides reach a settlement beforehand. The case is expected to draw intense media attention, not only because of the massive dollar figures involved but also due to the broader industry implications surrounding workplace misconduct, retaliation, and celebrity reputation management.
If successful, Lively’s $161 million claim would rank among the largest personal-damages awards ever sought in a Hollywood harassment-related case. For now, it adds another explosive chapter to an increasingly acrimonious feud that has blurred the lines between movie drama and real-life scandal.
