Blake Lively Justin Baldoni trial update: Hollywood’s latest courtroom drama just got a new chapter. Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni have failed to settle
their high-profile legal dispute, clearing the path for a full-fledged trial in May 2026.
The closed-door settlement conference took place on Wednesday (February 11) at New York’s Daniel Patrick Moynihan United States Courthouse in Manhattan. It marked the first time the two actors appeared in court together since the lawsuit was filed. However, despite hours of discussion, the attempt to resolve the matter outside court did not succeed.
Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni fail to reach settlement
The case stems from a lawsuit filed by Lively against Baldoni. She has accused him of sexual harassment, retaliatory behaviour and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The damages sought in the case now total a staggering USD 550 million, raising the stakes significantly.
Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, confirmed that the negotiations did not lead to an agreement. Speaking to reporters outside the courthouse, he described the talks as “unsuccessful,” though he added that there is “always a chance” of a settlement. He also stated that he was “looking forward” to the trial scheduled for May.
Magistrate Judge Sarah L Cave oversaw the settlement conference. Lively attended the hearing alone, while Baldoni arrived with his wife, Emily Baldoni.
The legal clash has attracted intense public attention, especially after US District Judge Lewis J Liman ordered several court documents to be unsealed earlier this year. Those records include internal emails, text messages and voice memos tied to the dispute. One particularly controversial message from a Sony executive reportedly referred to Lively as a “terrorist.”
Other unsealed materials include a four-minute voice memo that Lively allegedly sent to Baldoni. Text exchanges involving Matt Damon, Ben Affleck and Taylor Swift have also surfaced. Messages between Lively and Swift sparked debate online, especially one in which Lively sought Swift’s help regarding Baldoni and requested her support for a film.
The current proceedings follow Judge Liman’s earlier ruling in June, when he dismissed Baldoni’s USD 400 million defamation lawsuit against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds.
The trial is scheduled to begin on May 18.
