Did Blake Lively Win Her Lawsuit? The Full 2026 Trial Status and Legal Victories

The fallout from the 2024 film It Ends With Us has evolved into a multi-million dollar legal saga that continues to dominate headlines in 2026. Fans and legal analysts alike are asking: Did Blake Lively win her lawsuit? While the answer is complex, the short version is that Lively has achieved a major “total victory” in defending against countersuits, though her primary claims against director Justin Baldoni are still heading toward a high-stakes trial in May 2026.

A Major Victory: Baldoni’s $400 Million Countersuit Dismissed

The most significant win for Blake Lively occurred in June 2025. Following her original filing, Justin Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios, launched a massive $400 million defamation and extortion countersuit against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and their publicist. They accused the couple of “hijacking” the film and orchestrating a smear campaign to destroy Baldoni’s reputation.

However, U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman delivered a decisive blow to Baldoni’s legal team by throwing out the entire $400 million countersuit. The judge ruled that Lively’s statements, which were made as part of her legal action and employment grievances, were protected under “litigation privilege.” This means that even if the statements were damaging, they cannot be the basis for a defamation claim when they are part of an ongoing legal proceeding. Lively’s team hailed this as a “complete vindication,” effectively ending the financial threat Baldoni’s countersuit posed to her and Reynolds.

The Core Case: Harassment and Retaliation Allegations

Despite winning the defense battle, Lively’s own lawsuit remains active. She is seeking approximately $550 million in damages, alleging that she was subjected to sexual harassment, unwelcome physical contact, and a hostile work environment on the set of It Ends With Us. The complaint includes specific, unscripted moments—such as an alleged forced kiss and being made to “crawl on all fours” during a simulated sex act—that she claims crossed professional boundaries.

Furthermore, Lively alleges that Baldoni engaged in a “multi-tiered plan” to damage her reputation after she complained about his behavior. This narrative of professional retaliation is a common theme in modern high-profile cases, such as the Tyler Perry lawsuit Derek Dixon or the TDE lawsuit, where power dynamics in the creative industry are put under the judicial microscope.

The Unsealed Taylor Swift Text Messages

In early 2026, the case took a viral turn when the court unsealed a trove of discovery materials, including private text messages between Blake Lively and her longtime friend Taylor Swift. These messages, which date back to early 2023, show Lively seeking Swift’s strategic advice on how to handle her disputes with Baldoni. In one message, Swift reportedly encouraged Lively to use her industry leverage, stating that having “ally” power over the film’s music and promotion was key to winning the creative battle.

While Baldoni’s lawyers argue these texts prove Lively was “strategically manipulating” the situation, Lively’s attorney, Sigrid McCawley, maintains that the messages only show a woman seeking support from a friend while navigating a toxic workplace. The unsealing of these private communications has caused a public relations stir, mirroring the intense public interest seen in the Lively Baldoni Swift text messages lawsuit update and similar celebrity-driven litigation.

The Road to the May 2026 Trial

As of March 2026, a settlement has not been reached. In February 2026, both actors appeared at a court-ordered settlement conference in Manhattan. Despite spending over six hours in separate rooms with a mediator, the parties remained deadlocked. Judge Liman has officially scheduled the jury trial to begin on May 18, 2026.

The trial is expected to feature a “who’s who” of Hollywood witnesses. Reports indicate that Taylor Swift, Ryan Reynolds, and even Hugh Jackman have been included on potential witness lists. The defense intends to use the unsealed documents to argue that the dispute was merely a “creative difference” that Lively reframed as misconduct to gain control of the film’s final cut—a strategy similar to defense arguments in the Jason Killinger lawsuit.

Recent Procedural Developments

In a minor setback for Lively in March 2026, the judge denied her bid to sanction Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, over comments made to the media. Lively’s team argued that Freedman’s public statements could “prejudice” the jury pool. However, Judge Liman ruled that the comments were made far enough in advance of the trial that they did not constitute a “substantial likelihood” of prejudice. This highlights the “war of words” that often accompanies high-stakes litigation like the Pam Bondi New York immigration lawsuit.

What the “Win” Looks Like So Far:

• Defensive Victory: Complete dismissal of Baldoni’s $400 million defamation countersuit.
• Discovery Access: Successfully forced the unsealing of documents that her team believes support her harassment claims.
• Public Sentiment: While her public approval ratings have dipped significantly due to the “hijacking” narrative, she remains legally on the offensive.

Conclusion: Is the Battle Over?

While Blake Lively “won” the first major phase of this legal war by eliminating Baldoni’s countersuit, the final verdict on her own claims is yet to be determined. The May 2026 trial will decide whether Baldoni is liable for the $550 million in damages Lively is seeking. For legal professionals, this case serves as a landmark study in “litigation privilege” and the evolving standards for workplace conduct on film sets. Whether Lively secures a final financial judgment or chooses to settle on the courthouse steps, she has already reshaped the legal landscape for how talent interacts with directors in the modern “Me Too” era of Hollywood.