Blake Lively Sees Attorney Fee Motion as Act of Advocacy

Key Points:

• Blake Lively settled her claims against Justin Baldoni’s Wayfarer Studios but continues to pursue a motion for attorney fees under a 2023 California law protecting sexual abuse accusers from “weaponized” defamation suits.
• Lively alleges Baldoni sexually harassed her on the set of their 2024 film "It Ends With Us" and retaliated against her after she complained; most of her claims were dismissed by a judge, but the parties settled remaining issues to avoid trial.
• Lively’s attorney views the attorney fees motion as a platform to support survivors facing retaliatory defamation suits, while Baldoni’s legal team considers the settlement a clear victory since harassment and defamation claims were dismissed.
• The dispute includes a legal debate over whether California’s Protecting Survivors from Weaponized Defamation Lawsuits Act applies, with Lively’s side arguing it does due to her administrative complaint filed in California, and Baldoni’s team contesting its jurisdiction.
• Both sides will submit further briefs on the attorney fees motion, and a hearing may be held to determine damages; Lively also advocates for similar protections through pending New York legislation.