The complicated legal dispute continues as Baldoni’s team seeks medical records linked to Lively’s allegations, while both parties remain entangled in a broader conflict.
**Blake Lively Withdraws Claims Against Justin Baldoni Amid Ongoing Legal Battle**
**Blake Lively Withdraws Claims Against Justin Baldoni Amid Ongoing Legal Battle**
In a significant development, actress Blake Lively has withdrawn her claims of emotional distress against director Justin Baldoni, who she accused of sexual harassment in a lawsuit.
In a surprising turn of events, actress Blake Lively has attempted to withdraw two key claims in her ongoing legal dispute with director Justin Baldoni. Lively, who co-starred with Baldoni in the film *It Ends With Us*, initially filed a lawsuit in December 2024 alleging sexual harassment and a campaign to smear her reputation.
As part of Baldoni's defense strategy, his legal team requested access to Lively's medical records, including therapy notes, to support their assertion that her claims of "severe emotional distress and pain, humiliation, embarrassment" should be scrutinized. Reportedly, Lively is seeking to drop claims related to intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligent infliction of emotional distress, as noted by *Variety*.
Court documents indicate that Baldoni's team acknowledged Lively's decision to withdraw her claims, stating: "Instead of complying with the Medical RFPs [Request for Proposal], Ms. Lively's counsel recently advised us, in writing, that Ms. Lively is withdrawing her claims." However, they remarked on Lively's refusal to dismiss the claims with prejudice, which could allow for the possibility of refiling them in the future.
In response, Lively's legal representation described Baldoni's actions as a "press stunt," explaining that their strategy aims to streamline and focus her case. They emphasized that she still maintains her claims of emotional distress as part of the overall lawsuit, which includes serious allegations like sexual harassment and retaliation.
Lively's legal troubles with Baldoni extend following the release of *It Ends With Us*, a film adaptation of Colleen Hoover's bestselling novel. In the movie, Lively portrays Lily Bloom, a woman confronting the cycle of domestic abuse in her life. Earlier this year, Baldoni launched a counter-suit against Lively and her husband, actor Ryan Reynolds, alleging civil extortion, defamation, and invasion of privacy.
In a related incident, singer Taylor Swift had been summoned to a U.S. court last month due to accusations that she encouraged Baldoni regarding script changes made by Lively. Swift's representatives quickly refuted this notion, asserting she had no involvement in casting decisions or creative processes related to the film. The subpoena was dismissed shortly thereafter, with Swift's legal team arguing that it constituted an unwarranted legal overreach.
As this legal battle unfolds, viewers and industry observers continue to watch closely, especially given the high stakes involved for both parties in the aftermath of *It Ends With Us*.
As part of Baldoni's defense strategy, his legal team requested access to Lively's medical records, including therapy notes, to support their assertion that her claims of "severe emotional distress and pain, humiliation, embarrassment" should be scrutinized. Reportedly, Lively is seeking to drop claims related to intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligent infliction of emotional distress, as noted by *Variety*.
Court documents indicate that Baldoni's team acknowledged Lively's decision to withdraw her claims, stating: "Instead of complying with the Medical RFPs [Request for Proposal], Ms. Lively's counsel recently advised us, in writing, that Ms. Lively is withdrawing her claims." However, they remarked on Lively's refusal to dismiss the claims with prejudice, which could allow for the possibility of refiling them in the future.
In response, Lively's legal representation described Baldoni's actions as a "press stunt," explaining that their strategy aims to streamline and focus her case. They emphasized that she still maintains her claims of emotional distress as part of the overall lawsuit, which includes serious allegations like sexual harassment and retaliation.
Lively's legal troubles with Baldoni extend following the release of *It Ends With Us*, a film adaptation of Colleen Hoover's bestselling novel. In the movie, Lively portrays Lily Bloom, a woman confronting the cycle of domestic abuse in her life. Earlier this year, Baldoni launched a counter-suit against Lively and her husband, actor Ryan Reynolds, alleging civil extortion, defamation, and invasion of privacy.
In a related incident, singer Taylor Swift had been summoned to a U.S. court last month due to accusations that she encouraged Baldoni regarding script changes made by Lively. Swift's representatives quickly refuted this notion, asserting she had no involvement in casting decisions or creative processes related to the film. The subpoena was dismissed shortly thereafter, with Swift's legal team arguing that it constituted an unwarranted legal overreach.
As this legal battle unfolds, viewers and industry observers continue to watch closely, especially given the high stakes involved for both parties in the aftermath of *It Ends With Us*.
