Blake Lively has reignited her feud with Justin Baldoni by demanding that he pay her "significant" damages, potentially leading to a mini-trial despite both parties reaching a settlement earlier this month.
The actress filed court documents claiming that Baldoni, her co-star and director on the movie It Ends With Us, should cover her legal fees after she sued him. Lively argued that she is owed legal fees, costs, treble damages, and punitive damages, according to court documents reported by The Sun.
Lively previously sued Baldoni for $AU223 million in damages in 2024, alleging sexual harassment on the set of It Ends With Us, which Baldoni denied. In April this year, a judge dismissed most of her case, and weeks later, both sides reached a settlement with no money changing hands.
Now, Lively wants Baldoni to pay for his own failed counter-lawsuit, in which he demanded $AU364 million for defamation. A judge dismissed his case last year, and Lively asserts that because she won, Baldoni must pay up.
During a hearing at a New York court on Monday, Judge Lewis Liman advised Lively's lawyers to consider dropping their claims, stating, "Your client does have the ability to end this." However, Lively's lawyer insisted she was entitled to the money and mentioned calling experts to testify in what could become a mini-trial.
Neither Lively, who is married to Deadpool star Ryan Reynolds, nor Baldoni attended the hearing. After the session, Lively's lawyer Sigrid McCawley said her client would seek "very significant" damages, as Lively's reputation and livelihood were harmed.
Lively's trial would have taken place this week had the case not been dismissed. Her former close friend Taylor Swift was expected to be involved. Lively had alleged in court documents that Baldoni added unscripted kisses to a dance scene in the movie and entered her trailer while she was topless and breastfeeding. Baldoni denied all claims, and the court dismissed most of them, including conspiracy, sexual harassment, and defamation.
Lively, 38, filed her initial complaint against Baldoni, 42, in December 2024. This story originally appeared on The Sun and is republished here with permission.
