In brief
Blake Lively and director Justin Baldoni attended a six-hour court session attempting to settle her sexual harassment lawsuit regarding the movie 'It Ends With Us'. The lawsuit has attracted attention in the entertainment industry and included allegations against Baldoni and his crisis management team. The trial is set for May 18, potentially featuring testimonies from notable figures, including Taylor Swift.
NEW YORK (AP) — Actor Blake Lively and director Justin Baldoni arrived at a Manhattan courthouse Wednesday as negotiations continued for a settlement over Lively's sexual harassment lawsuit concerning the set of the 2024 romantic drama 'It Ends With Us'. After six hours of discussions, the two left separately, with Baldoni appearing upbeat while Lively maintained a serious demeanor. Baldoni’s attorney confirmed that no agreement was reached during the talks, which are a standard requirement before trial proceedings. The litigation, which has been contentious over the past year, has pulled in a breadth of the entertainment industry, igniting discussions about power dynamics in Hollywood. Lively's lawsuit accuses Baldoni and a crisis communications consultant of harassment and orchestrating a smear campaign against her following her complaints about his behavior on set. In addition, Baldoni has countersued Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, claiming defamation and extortion, though these charges were dismissed by the court last June. The upcoming trial, set for May 18, is expected to be high-profile, with Lively's legal team listing several celebrities as potential witnesses, including Taylor Swift, Gigi Hadid, and Hugh Jackman, all of whom could shed light on the dynamics at play during the filming of 'It Ends With Us'.
