BLAKE Lively and Ryan Reynolds have finally called time on their bruising legal battle with Justin Baldoni after racking up a staggering $60 million in combined legal fees.
The bitter dispute, which exploded in December 2024 when Lively accused Baldoni of sexual harassment and a smear campaign, ended in an out-of-court settlement just weeks before their civil trial was due to begin.
Neither side walked away with a payout, sources reveal, but both agreed to put the rancour behind them after 18 months of costly back-and-forth.
In a joint statement, the stars praised their film ‘It Ends With Us’ for making “a meaningful impact in the lives of domestic violence survivors – and all survivors.”
They admitted the process had its challenges and said, “We acknowledge the process presented challenges and recognize concerns raised by Ms. Lively deserved to be heard.”
The statement also stressed a commitment to “workplaces free of improprieties and unproductive environments,” hoping the settlement would bring closure and allow everyone to move on peacefully.
Court documents revealed a trove of private messages between Hollywood heavyweights, including texts from Lively to Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, and Taylor Swift, with the latter calling Baldoni a “b—h.”
Other cast members weighed in, with Jenny Slate branding Baldoni a “clown” and his producing partner calling Lively “bats–t crazy.”
Taylor Swift’s messages showed strain in her friendship with Lively, telling her, “I just kinda miss my funny, dark, normal-speaking friend who talks to me as herself.”
Insiders say Ryan Reynolds pushed for an end to the lawsuit, fearing the drawn-out fight would damage Lively’s career, reputation, and personal relationships.
Lively claimed the legal battle cost her over $40 million in lost earnings due to reputational harm.
Baldoni denied all allegations and launched a $400 million counterclaim for defamation and extortion, but a judge dismissed most of Lively’s claims and threw out Baldoni’s countersuit.
Lively described the lawsuit as “the last thing I wanted in my life,” but said she pursued it due to “pervasive RETALIATION” for demanding a safe working environment.
With the case now behind them, all parties hope to move forward constructively and leave the courtroom drama in the past.