Blake Lively vs Justin Baldoni Trial Moves Forward as Settlement Push Fails

The battle between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni shows no signs of slowing down, as both parties have officially rejected a final attempt at a settlement. On Monday, April 6, Magistrate Judge Sarah L. Cave held separate conference calls with legal teams for the former co-stars to see if a trial could be avoided.

Despite the judge’s efforts to find middle ground, the discussions ended without an agreement, meaning the case is now firmly on track for its scheduled May 18 start date. This update follows a significant ruling from Judge Lewis Liman on April 2, which dismissed a large portion of Lively’s initial claims.

Out of thirteen total allegations, ten were thrown out, including those related to sexual harassment, though the judge noted these were dismissed on jurisdictional and contractual grounds rather than a lack of merit. The remaining focus of the trial will center on claims of retaliation and defamation, specifically regarding an alleged digital smear campaign.

Lively has contended that Baldoni’s crisis PR team engaged in “astroturfing” to damage her reputation prior to their film’s release, a charge she now describes as the core of her case. The tension between the two actors has remained high throughout the proceedings, with both sides frequently making their stances known through legal filings and social media.

On the same day as the settlement calls, Lively reminded her followers of her commitment to the cause by resharing previous comments about fighting systems that harm or silence victims.

“I’ll never stop doing my part in fighting to expose the systems and people who seek to harm, shame, silence, and retaliate against victims,” she recently stated. She also urged her fans to stay focused on the broader issues rather than the “digital soap opera” surrounding the dispute.

Attempts to resolve this conflict outside of a courtroom have been ongoing since late 2024, including a face-to-face meeting in Manhattan earlier this year. However, every effort has been met with the same result, with Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, previously noting that settlement hopes were “unsuccessful.”

As the trial date approaches, the industry is watching closely to see how the remaining claims of defamation and professional retaliation will be handled in front of a jury. While this legal drama continues, both stars are moving forward with a variety of other high-profile projects.

Despite the massive box office success of their 2024 collaboration, industry insiders suggest that a sequel based on Colleen Hoover’s follow-up novel, It Starts With Us, is currently unlikely, given the current rift between the leads.

Universal Pictures has instead pivoted to an adaptation of Hoover’s other bestseller, Reminders of Him. For now, the focus for both Lively and Baldoni remains on their upcoming courtroom appearance as they seek to finally resolve their long-standing dispute.

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