Blake Lively’s Harassment Claims Against Justin Baldoni Dismissed as Case Heads to Trial
The New York Times • • general
Key Points:
- A New York judge dismissed Blake Lively’s sexual harassment claims against actor and director Justin Baldoni, narrowing the scope of her lawsuit ahead of trial.
- The judge allowed Lively’s retaliation claim against Baldoni’s company to proceed, focusing on alleged retaliatory actions on social media and in the press after her harassment complaints.
- Judge Lewis J. Liman ruled that some crisis communications by Baldoni’s team were acceptable, but others could be seen as retaliatory by a jury.
- Baldoni denies the harassment allegations, asserting that Lively used minor issues to undermine him and that his crisis management efforts aimed to protect his reputation, not to defame her.
- The judge found Lively’s sexual harassment claims legally insufficient, noting she did not qualify for employee protections as she was an independent contractor on the film "It Ends With Us."
