Blake Lively's sexual harassment claims against Justin Baldoni are tossed out
AP News • • entertainment
Key Points:
- A federal judge dismissed Blake Lively’s sexual harassment claims against co-star and director Justin Baldoni related to the movie "It Ends With Us," but allowed three claims, including retaliation, to proceed to trial scheduled for May 18.
- Judge Lewis J. Liman ruled Lively was an independent contractor, not an employee, and thus could not bring sexual harassment claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which applies to employment discrimination.
- The judge found some evidence suggesting Baldoni’s production company may have engaged in a campaign to damage Lively’s reputation and career in retaliation for her potential discrimination claim.
- While Baldoni’s on-set conduct was deemed part of acting and not clearly hostile harassment, some incidents, including inappropriate comments and filming conditions, supported the surviving retaliation claims.
- Lively’s attorney emphasized the case focuses on retaliation and efforts to harm Lively’s reputation, highlighting the importance of addressing such online and professional retaliation in the industry.
