Blake Lively Withdraws Emotional Distress Claim Against Justin Baldoni Ahead of 2026 Trial

Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni are embroiled in a high-profile legal battle stemming from Lively's allegations of sexual harassment and emotional distress during the filming of 'It Ends With Us.' In recent developments, Lively has sought to withdraw her emotional distress claims following Baldoni’s legal team's demand for access to her private medical records, leading to disputes over whether this withdrawal should be with or without prejudice. Baldoni's team argues that withdrawing without prejudice would allow Lively to refile the claims after discovery closes, which they oppose. Despite dropping the emotional distress claim, Lively maintains her accusations of sexual harassment and retaliation, aiming for significant compensation. The case has attracted public attention, particularly around legal maneuvers such as the withdrawal of a subpoena for Taylor Swift, who was rumored to have relevant information; Baldoni’s team had initially sought Swift’s texts to Lively but later retracted the subpoena. Additionally, the dispute includes contention over amicus briefs filed by women’s rights groups supporting Lively under California’s #MeToo law, with Baldoni’s lawyers attempting to dismiss these as irrelevant, while Lively’s team accuses Baldoni of attempting to suppress survivor protections.