Blake Lively received zero dollars in her settlement with Justin Baldoni over their "It Ends With Us" feud, though the legal war between the co-stars remains unresolved. Lively still has a pending motion seeking attorneys' fees and damages tied to Baldoni's failed defamation counterclaim against her.
The settlement, reached in January 2025, ended Lively's sexual harassment and intentional infliction of emotional distress lawsuit against Baldoni and Sony Pictures. Baldoni initially filed a countersuit alleging defamation, but that claim collapsed. The lack of monetary compensation in Lively's favor suggests the settlement functioned more as a mutual cease-fire than a victory lap for the actress.
However, the fight extends beyond the headline deal. Lively's legal team continues pursuing reimbursement for attorney fees and additional damages stemming from Baldoni's defamation effort. These motions remain pending in court, meaning the case hasn't fully closed despite the public settlement announcement.
The conflict erupted during production of the Jon Kent-directed adaptation of Colleen Hoover's bestselling domestic violence novel. Lively alleged Baldoni engaged in sexual harassment, created a hostile work environment, and launched a coordinated smear campaign against her reputation. Baldoni denied all allegations.
The settlement's timing and zero-payout structure raise questions about leverage and strategic calculation. For Lively, the lack of money may reflect her priority on stopping further legal exposure and narrative damage rather than financial gain. For Baldoni and Sony, settling without paying cash potentially represented damage control given his production company's involvement and the severe reputational fallout.
The pending attorneys' fees motion keeps Baldoni's legal costs rising and preserves Lively's ability to extract financial consequences for his failed countersuit. Industry observers watched this case closely because it