Home / Arts and Entertainment / Lively Retaliation Case Heads to Trial
Lively Retaliation Case Heads to Trial
3 Apr
Summary
- Lively's claims of retaliation and reputation destruction will go to trial.
- Most of Lively's accusations were dismissed by the judge.
- The trial is scheduled to start on May 18, 2026.
A legal battle concerning Blake Lively's accusations of retaliation and reputational damage is set to proceed to trial on May 18, 2026. Initially filed in December 2024, Lively's lawsuit alleged that her reputation was targeted after she raised concerns about sexual harassment and workplace safety on a production set. Judge Lewis J. Liman recently dismissed several of Lively's claims, including harassment, defamation, and conspiracy. However, allegations of breach of contract and retaliation will be heard in court.
Lively's legal team maintains that the case is fundamentally about "devastating retaliation" and exposing a "playbook" of digital attacks against women who speak out. While the court determined Lively was an independent contractor, not an employee, the remaining charges will be addressed. This ongoing legal process has also seen Lively's text messages with Taylor Swift become public as part of the discovery phase. Baldoni's countersuit against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, was dismissed in June 2025, a ruling hailed as a victory for the couple.
