Hollywood actress Blake Lively has formally requested over £6.3 million in legal fees and associated costs from Justin Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios. This significant sum is intended to cover the expenses Lively incurred between January and June 2025, during a protracted legal conflict that stemmed from their collaboration on the 2024 film 'It Ends With Us'.
The current claim follows a federal judge's ruling in June, which determined that Lively was entitled to recover fees and costs after the settlement of the lawsuit in May 2026. The initial legal dispute began in December 2024 when Lively lodged a complaint of sexual harassment. This was subsequently met with a substantial £316 million countersuit from Baldoni in January 2025, alleging civil extortion, defamation, and invasion of privacy against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds. Baldoni's defamation suit was ultimately dismissed in June 2025.
In a detailed 15-page memorandum submitted on 30 June, Lively's legal representatives, Michael Gottlieb and Esra Hudson, outlined the specifics of her request: £5,907,460.50 for attorneys' fees and £426,056.88 for costs, totalling £6,333,517.38 (approximately $7,495,526.87 and $539,514.01 respectively). The memorandum sharply criticised Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios for what it termed 'scorched-earth litigation tactics designed to drain Lively’s resources'.
Lively's legal team further alleged that Baldoni and his representatives engaged in a 'near-daily press campaign promoting their sham lawsuit', alongside 'expansive and irrelevant discovery demands' and obstruction of discovery efforts directed at them. They contended that these actions forced Lively to seek frequent court intervention to manage 'abusive docket filings'. The memorandum concluded that Baldoni's countersuit was a deliberate attempt to damage Lively's reputation, stating its aim was 'to retaliate against Lively by falsely branding her a liar, intimidating witnesses and the media, and discouraging others from speaking out'.
Gottlieb and Hudson highlighted the broader implications of the judge's decision, noting that it sets a significant precedent. They stated that the ruling puts those considering using lawsuits as 'a weapon of intimidation' on notice, emphasising the accountability it imposes and the protection it offers to individuals facing similar retaliation for speaking out. This case underscores the complex and often costly nature of legal disputes in the entertainment industry.
While 'It Ends With Us' is a US production, the involvement of high-profile actors like Lively often garners significant attention globally, including in the UK. Details regarding its UK streaming availability are not yet confirmed, but such a high-profile film would likely be sought after by major platforms or cinemas once released.