Daijiworld Media Network – Los Angeles
Los Angeles, Jun 3: Hollywood’s legal spotlight has once again turned toward the unfolding courtroom battle between acclaimed actor Blake Lively and her It Ends With Us co-star and director Justin Baldoni, as fresh developments suggest Lively is set to withdraw a major claim against him.
According to The Independent and other US media outlets, Lively is now seeking to drop her allegation that Baldoni “intentionally and negligently” inflicted emotional distress during the production of the film. The strategic legal shift comes shortly after Baldoni’s legal team demanded access to Lively’s private medical and therapy records — a move that would have exposed sensitive information under the discovery process.
The high-profile legal wrangle, which has gripped the entertainment industry since early this year, involves a series of lawsuits. In January, Lively accused Baldoni of sexual harassment and alleged that he led a post-production smear campaign designed to derail her career. Baldoni, best known for his role in Jane the Virgin, has denied all allegations and retaliated with a $400 million defamation countersuit. The countersuit claims both Lively and her husband, actor Ryan Reynolds, tried to damage his professional image.
On Monday, legal representatives of Baldoni’s production house, Wayfarer Studios, petitioned the court to compel Lively to sign a HIPAA release form — a legal document allowing access to medical records. In response, Lively’s attorneys indicated she would withdraw the standalone emotional distress charge, possibly to prevent disclosure of her private records.
Despite this tactical withdrawal, Lively has maintained her core accusations, including sexual harassment, retaliation, and reputational harm. These broader allegations continue to include claims of emotional trauma, and she is reportedly seeking substantial compensatory damages.
In a surprising twist last month, Baldoni’s legal team also retracted a widely discussed subpoena that had been issued to global pop icon Taylor Swift, who was speculated to have had key knowledge of behind-the-scenes dynamics.
The court has slated the trial for March 9, 2026, and with both camps intensifying their legal maneuvers, the case promises to remain in public and media focus for months to come.