Blake Lively Withdraws Emotional Distress Claims Against Justin Baldoni

Following a prolonged legal battle stemming from their collaboration on "It Ends With Us," Blake Lively has attempted to withdraw her claims of intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress against director Justin Baldoni. The situation further complicates their dispute, with Baldoni’s legal team demanding Lively's medical records as part of the defense.

Amid a contentious legal battle, actress Blake Lively has made the decision to withdraw two claims regarding emotional distress against director Justin Baldoni. This latest development is part of a lawsuit Lively initiated in December 2024, following their collaboration on the film "It Ends With Us," where she accused Baldoni of sexual harassment and conducting a smear campaign against her.

According to reports from Variety, Baldoni's legal team had requested that Lively provide her medical records, including therapy notes, as evidence for their defense against her allegations of experiencing "severe emotional distress and pain, humiliation, and embarrassment." Recent court documents indicate Lively is now seeking to drop her claims related to both intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligent infliction of emotional distress. The court must determine whether to dismiss these claims or require Lively to submit personal mental health information.

In the legal filings reviewed by Variety, Baldoni’s lawyers noted, "Ms Lively's counsel recently advised us, in writing, that Ms Lively is withdrawing her [infliction of emotional distress] claims." They also mentioned that Lively refused to comply with their request for a definitive withdrawal of these claims, which could allow for potential re-filing in the future.

Lively’s legal team responded to Baldoni's allegations, labeling his filings as "a press stunt," while asserting that Lively’s case is being "streamlined and focused." They highlighted that despite withdrawing these specific claims, Lively continues to allege emotional distress within the context of several other claims, including those of sexual harassment and retaliation, with the potential for significant additional damages.

The legal issues have escalated further, as Baldoni filed a counter-suit against Lively and her husband, actor Ryan Reynolds, accusing them of civil extortion, defamation, and invasion of privacy earlier this year. The two have remained in a contentious relationship since the film's release, which is an adaptation of the popular Colleen Hoover novel.

In a related twist, singer Taylor Swift was drawn into the legal fray last month when she was subpoenaed regarding her supposed encouragement of Baldoni to consider script revisions suggested by Lively. Swift’s representatives contested the legality of the subpoena, calling it an "unwarranted fishing expedition," and ultimately, the subpoena was dropped.

As the situation evolves, it remains to be seen how this ongoing legal drama between Lively and Baldoni will play out and what implications it may have for both their careers in Hollywood.