Blake Lively recently issued an official statement condemning the internets claims on her case against Justin Baldoni as a 'celebrity drama'.
After the legal battle between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni was dismissed by federal judge, Lewis J. Liman, the actress condemned the court ruling. The actress had claimed allegations of sexual harassment, defamation, and conspiracy against her It Ends With Us co-star and director Justin Baldoni. However, the court ruled that Blake could not bring sexual harassment claims under federal law (Title VII) because she was an independent contractor, not an employee.
Taking to her IG handle, Blake Lively issued an official statement. She thanked the court’s hearing, which will grant her the chance to present her side of the story. On the other hand, Blake condemns the internet for calling her case a ‘celebrity drama’. The called out the constant packaging of her case as a ‘drama’ is irresponsible.
In the same statement, Blake stated that ‘digital manipulation has been boasted as untraceable’. She also mentioned that her case would encourage women to speak up against harassment and help ensure better working environments. Calling digital manipulation ‘abuse’, she stated:
“Physical pain from digital violence is very real. My claims won't be the first or last time you'll see examples of the extreme dangers of retaliation and digital warfare. I know it's a privilege to be able to stand up. I will not waste it.”
It all began with the creative differences between Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively, who starred in the movie, It Ends With Us, an adaptation of Colleen Hoover's novel. Justin served as a director and lead actor, while Blake played the lead opposite him and produced the film. After the film's release, Blake filed a complaint against Justin in December 2024, accusing him of sexual harassment, breach of contract, emotional distress, and trying to damage her reputation with a coordinated smear campaign.
A few days ago, Us Weekly obtained the actress's texts, in which she claimed that Justin had asked her trainer about her weight, worried about lifting her for several scenes in the movie It Ends With Us. On the other hand, Justin regularly denied all the accusations and filed a USD 400 million countersuit against Blake, her husband, Ryan Reynolds, for defamation. However, that countersuit was dismissed in 2025, complicating the legal matter between the two parties.
On April 2, 2026, U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman dismissed 10 of the 13 claims in Blake Lively's lawsuit against Justin Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios. The judge ruled that the actress was an independent contractor, not an employee, which meant she could not pursue sexual harassment claims under certain federal civil rights laws.
The ruling also clarified that Justin Baldoni is not liable for the remaining claims. Blake also filed some claims under California law, which were also not considered. The reason was that the alleged misconduct didn't occur in that state, rendering those laws inapplicable to the Blake Lively vs Justin Baldoni case. Despite this, the lawsuit is still moving forward, and the next trial is scheduled for May 18, 2026.
What do you think about Blake Lively’s reaction to the online criticism of her case?
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