By Jack Queen
NEW YORK, May 4 (Reuters) - Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni have settled a lawsuit brought by Lively over the filming of the 2024 romantic drama "It Ends With Us," Baldoni's production company said Monday, averting a civil trial scheduled for May where both actors were expected to testify about Lively's allegations of sexual misconduct by Baldoni.
The settlement ends more than a year of acrimonious litigation that drew intense publicity as details of Lively's allegations and Baldoni's
counterclaims trickled out in court filings.
A representative for Lively did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Lively, widely known for starring in the TV series "Gossip Girl," sued Baldoni, his production company Wayfarer Studios and others in December 2024, seeking damages for alleged harassment, defamation, invasion of privacy and violations of federal and state civil rights laws.
She said the defendants created a sexually charged atmosphere during the movie's production, then mounted a smear campaign to silence her.
Baldoni, who directed and co-starred in "It Ends With Us," countered that he quickly resolved Lively's concerns and said he was entitled to hire a crisis management firm after Lively began disparaging him publicly.
U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman dismissed Lively's sexual harassment claims on April 2, but details of the actor's allegations could have still emerged in the scheduled May 18 civil trial over her retaliation claims.
The dispute became public in December 2024 when Lively filed a complaint against Baldoni with the California Civil Rights Department, followed by her lawsuit. A related article published in the New York Times was titled: "'We Can Bury Anyone': Inside a Hollywood Smear Machine."
Baldoni sued Lively and her husband, actor Ryan Reynolds, for defamation, saying they tried to destroy his reputation, but Liman dismissed that case in June. The judge also dismissed Baldoni's defamation case against the Times.
"It Ends With Us" starred Lively as a flower shop owner who marries a neurosurgeon played by Baldoni.
Despite mixed reviews, the movie grossed more than $351 million worldwide, according to Box Office Mojo.
(Reporting by Jack Queen; Editing by Lincol Feast and Franklin Paul)
