Blake Lively awarded $400,000 of $8m she claimed for legal fees in Baldoni battle

Blake Lively has been awarded $400,000 out of the $8 million she initially sought to recoup legal fees and costs from her former co-star, Justin Baldoni, following a defeat in a defamation lawsuit. The actress had previously sued Baldoni for sexual harassment and retaliation in connection with the 2024 film It Ends With Us. When Baldoni countersued for defamation, a judge dismissed his complaint in 2025.

Lively claimed she was entitled to $7.5 million to cover her legal expenses, but the judge reduced her award to $407,451. The judge ruled that Lively had claimed funds for unnecessary costs and time, thus reducing the overall award. The actress and Baldoni reached a settlement following the latest ruling. Both sides praised the decision, with Lively's legal team calling it a historic victory demonstrating consequences for retaliatory lawsuits brought by accusers, while Baldoni's attorney argued it sends a message that personal gain should not be pursued through the legal system.