Blake Lively's Harassment Claims Against Justin Baldoni Thrown Out
IndieWire • • general
Key Points:
- A federal judge dismissed Blake Lively's sexual harassment claims against "It Ends with Us" director Justin Baldoni but allowed her retaliation allegations to proceed to a jury trial.
- Judge Lewis J. Liman ruled that some of Baldoni's responses to Lively's harassment claims could be seen as retaliatory actions that went beyond acceptable defense measures.
- The judge noted evidence suggesting a planned campaign by Baldoni’s associates to damage Lively’s professional reputation and career, which a jury could consider as retaliation.
- Lively's sexual harassment claims, including alleged inappropriate texts and comments by Baldoni, were deemed insufficient to meet the legal standard, and Baldoni's team denies the allegations.
- The upcoming trial will focus on whether the negative social media narrative about Lively and the film was organically generated or orchestrated by a crisis PR firm hired by Baldoni.
