Judge dismisses much of Blake Lively's lawsuit against Justin Baldoni

Key Points:

• A federal judge in New York dismissed most of Blake Lively's sexual harassment claims against co-star Justin Baldoni related to their film "It Ends With Us," ruling that Baldoni's conduct did not create a hostile work environment given the film's adult themes.
• Lively is permitted to continue pursuing claims of retaliation against Baldoni's public relations team for allegedly orchestrating a smear campaign that harmed her reputation, which the judge said may have crossed the line.
• The ruling comes one month before the scheduled trial and follows unsuccessful settlement negotiations between the parties, who have been engaged in a legal battle for over a year involving multiple lawsuits and countersuits.
• Lively's legal team emphasized that the case now focuses on retaliation and efforts to damage her reputation for advocating safety on set, while Baldoni's attorneys welcomed the dismissal of all sexual harassment claims and look forward to defending the narrowed case.
• The dispute began with Lively filing a complaint accusing Baldoni and his production company of sexual harassment and a social manipulation campaign, followed by Baldoni's countersuit alleging extortion and defamation, both parties denying the other's allegations.