Blake Lively Withdraws Emotional Distress Claims Against Justin Baldoni

Actress Blake Lively has dropped claims of intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress against director Justin Baldoni, amid ongoing legal disputes following their collaboration in "It Ends With Us." The court's decision on whether to dismiss the claims or compel Lively to reveal her mental health records is pending.

In a significant turn within a contentious legal battle, actress Blake Lively has moved to withdraw two claims related to emotional distress against director Justin Baldoni. The claims were initially part of a lawsuit filed by Lively in December 2024, following allegations of sexual harassment and a smear campaign linked to their work together on the film "It Ends With Us." Reports indicate that Lively's legal counsel informed Baldoni's team of her decision to drop claims of both intentional infliction and negligent infliction of emotional distress.

The legal dispute reached a pivotal point as Baldoni's team requested access to Lively's medical records, including therapy notes, to support their defense against her claims of suffering "severe emotional distress and pain." While Lively is withdrawing specific claims, her legal representatives assert that the actress continues to allege emotional distress as part of broader accusations, including sexual harassment and retaliation, seeking substantial compensatory damages.

Baldoni's legal documents highlighted that Lively's withdrawal of claims came without prejudice, suggesting they could potentially be refiled later. Conversely, Lively's attorneys characterized Baldoni's filing as a "press stunt," arguing that the strategy employed by Baldoni and his production company has led to new damage claims under California law, necessitating a streamlining of Lively’s legal stance.

The legal wrangling between the two began around the release of "It Ends With Us," an adaptation of Colleen Hoover's best-selling novel, where Lively plays a character entangled in the cycle of domestic violence. In an unexpected twist to the drama, singer Taylor Swift was summoned to appear in court over alleged involvement in script rewrites; however, her subpoena was later dropped due to objections from her legal team.

As the case unfolds, Lively remains poised to pursue her remaining claims against Baldoni, while the court considers whether to dismiss the withdrawn claims or compel disclosure of her mental health records. The ongoing saga has garnered substantial media attention, reflecting broader discussions about accountability and allegations of misconduct within Hollywood.