Blake Lively WON’T drop flailing legal case against Justin Baldoni… recasting it a battle against ‘digital violence’ rather than sexual harassment

Blake Lively has reacted to the dismissal of her sexual harassment allegations against Justin Baldoni during a legal battle this week, saying she is ‘grateful’ for the judge’s decision.

The 38-year-old actress, who first filed a lawsuit against Baldoni in December 2024, also criticized the ‘online harassment’ she faced and made a statement on Friday, giving her own response on Instagram stories.

Judge Lewis Liman dismissed the sexual harassment allegations, as well as fat-shaming allegations against the It Ends With Us star and director.

However, he may still claim the following: retaliation, aiding and abetting retaliation, and breach of contract.

‘I am grateful for the Court’s decision allowing the substance of my case to be presented to the jury next month and for finally having the opportunity to tell my full story at trial for my own sake…’

The Gossip Girl alum added: ‘But it’s also for those who haven’t had the same opportunity… many of whom I’ve known and loved deeply throughout my life, and countless others I will never know.’

The actress gave her own response on her Instagram stories on Friday, also criticizing the ‘online harassment’ she has faced.

He vividly explained to his followers that he never wanted to be part of a lawsuit, but that he did and continues to do so ‘due to the compelling RETALIATION I have faced privately and professionally for wanting a safe working environment for myself and others.’

He wrote that he still hopes others have the courage to ‘speak up’.

“Don’t get distracted by a digital soap opera,” the actress wrote, before stating that adding tags like “Celebrity TV” to the lawsuit was “irresponsible.”

Lively continued: ‘The physical pain caused by digital violence is very real. This is abuse. And it is everywhere. ‘Not just in the news, but in your communities and schools.’

He also spoke about the manipulations that can occur online and warned that children with phones ‘are among the most vulnerable’.

‘Research estimates that between 16% and 58% of women have experienced online abuse or stalking; ‘97% of gender-based violence service providers report technology-facilitated abuse in their cases.’

Lively added that she was ‘proud’ of the steps taken to ‘expose damaging systems, tactics and players’.

Yıldız expressed her gratitude to the others who spoke before her and said that she was grateful for the support she received.

Judge Lewis Liman dismissed the sexual harassment allegations as well as the embarrassing allegations he made against his It Ends With Us co-star and director; Baldoni spotted in New York in 2024

‘I am grateful for the Court’s decision allowing the substance of my case to be presented to the jury next month and for finally having the opportunity to tell my full story at trial for my own sake,’ he wrote; Seen in New York in February

The actor also released a statement from his attorney, Mike Gottlieb, as he prepares to appear in court on May 18.

In conclusion, Lively added: ‘I will never stop doing my part to expose the systems and people who seek to harm, shame, silence, and retaliate against victims. I know that it is a privilege to be able to stand. I won’t waste it. Your support keeps me going.’

The actress also released a statement from her attorney, Mike Gottlieb, as she prepares to go to trial on May 18.

“It’s no surprise that Bryan Freedman doesn’t understand the court’s actual decision,” he said, referring to Baldoni’s lawyer.

‘He hasn’t even objected to the summary judgment motion he has now filed, had to call in another law firm for a hearing, and just last week was reprimanded by the court for making legally frivolous claims.’

Gottlieb later said the court ruled that Lively ‘provided sufficient evidence’ about the other allegations: ‘She had a good faith reasonable belief that the conduct about which she specifically raised concerns was unlawful sexual harassment.’

His lawyer also shared a quote from the Court regarding the sexual harassment allegations.

It said: ‘A person in her position would understand that the workplace at times reflected a sexist and sexualized perspective and that their personal privacy was disregarded sufficiently to make it reasonable to complain about a hostile work environment based on sex or gender.”

Gottlieb concluded: ‘The retaliation Ms. Lively faced for speaking out privately for a safe work environment has always been the beating heart of her case.

In conclusion, Lively added: ‘I will never stop doing my part to expose systems and people who seek to harm, shame, silence, and retaliate against victims’; Seen in New York in 2025

“It is absolutely no surprise that Bryan Freedman does not understand the court’s actual decision,” Lively’s lawyer said, referring to Baldoni’s lawyer; Baldoni was spotted in New York in February

‘That’s why he filed a lawsuit. The court found sufficient evidence to move the case forward. We look forward to the hearing on May 18.’

Baldoni’s other lawyers, Alexandra Shapiro and Jonathan Bach, also reacted to his latest legal victory.

“We are very pleased that the court dismissed all sexual harassment allegations and every claim made against the individual defendants (Justin Baldoni, Jamey Heath, Steve Sarowitz, Melissa Nathan and Jennifer Abel),” they said in a statement to the Daily Mail on Thursday.

‘These were very serious allegations and we are grateful to the Court for its careful consideration of the facts, the law and the wealth of evidence presented.’

Shapiro and Bach added that Lively’s case “is a significantly narrowed case and we look forward to presenting our defense on the remaining claims in court.”

The judge this week dismissed 10 of the 13 allegations in Lively’s lawsuit.

It was also revealed on Friday that both Lively and Baldoni’s lawyers were unexpectedly summoned to discuss their latest clarity on settling their cases.

Lawyers in the long-running case were told to call U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah Cave in separate hearings Monday.

Shapiro and Bach added that Lively’s case is a ‘significantly narrowed case and we look forward to presenting our defense on the remaining claims in court;’ Baldoni spotted in New York in 2024

It was also revealed on Friday that lawyers for both Lively and Baldoni were unexpectedly called in to discuss their recent openness to settling their cases; seen above in It Ends With Us (2024)

The public will not be allowed to hear what he said during Monday’s two meetings.

The first will be held with Lively’s lawyers at 3 p.m., while the hearing for Baldoni and his company, Wayfarer Productions, will be held an hour later.

Both parties were told they needed to address ‘their clients’ updated settlement position’.

Lively’s attorney, Michael Gottlieb, insisted this doesn’t mean it’s over. He said the actress was looking forward to the hearing scheduled for next month.

In a statement to the Daily Mail, Gottlieb said the jury would still hear allegations of sexual harassment, which he called the “beating heart” of the case.

The messy row centers on Baldoni allegedly harassing Lively on set, which Baldoni alleges was a smear campaign waged by him and his team following the disastrous production.

The case was quickly covered by The New York Times, which accused Baldoni and his colleagues of orchestrating a smear campaign against Lively; Seen in New York in 2024

In an explosive lawsuit filed in California in December 2024, Lively claimed they fat-shamed her and forced her into uncomfortable scenes.

The case was quickly covered by The New York Times, which accused Baldoni and his colleagues of orchestrating a smear campaign against Lively.

Baldoni immediately denied the allegations. The New York Times later filed a lawsuit against Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds.

Both cases were dismissed, and Lively’s outstanding complaints were consolidated into a single lawsuit to be argued in New York in May.

A spokesperson for WME expressed support for Lively in a statement to Deadline on Friday, following the judge’s latest ruling this week; Seen in Los Angeles in 2024

When Lively filed a lawsuit against Baldoni, Baldoni was dropped from her talent agency, WME.

A spokesperson for the agency expressed its support for Lively in a statement. Deadline Friday after the judge’s final ruling this week.

‘In an industry that often asks women to take the damage and stay silent, Blake Lively has chosen to stand up for herself, her co-stars, and those without the ability to fight back.’

The spokesman added: ‘He met this moment with courage, moral clarity and extraordinary determination.’