Blake Lively Expresses Relief as Sexual Harassment Allegations Dismissed: A Grateful Perspective

Blake Lively has expressed her gratitude following a judge’s decision to dismiss her sexual harassment claims against Justin Baldoni amid their ongoing legal dispute.

The 38-year-old actress, who initiated legal action against Baldoni in December 2024, shared her reaction on Instagram Stories this Friday. In her statement, Lively also criticized the “online abuse” she has encountered.

In addition to dismissing the sexual harassment claims, Judge Lewis Liman also threw out allegations of fat-shaming that Lively had made against Baldoni, her co-star and director in “It Ends With Us.”

Despite these dismissals, Lively retains the right to pursue claims of retaliation, aiding and abetting retaliation, and breach of contract.

“I’m thankful for the Court’s decision, which allows the core of my case to be heard by a jury next month,” Lively stated. “I look forward to finally sharing my story fully at the trial, for my own peace of mind…”

The Gossip Girl alum added, ‘But also for those who don’t have the same opportunity to… many of whom I have known and loved deeply in my life, and the countless I’ll never know.’ 

Blake Lively, 38, said that she is ‘grateful’ for the judge’s ruling as she reacted to her sexual harassment claims against Justin Baldoni being tossed out this week amid their legal battle; seen in 2025 in NYC 

The actress took to her Instagram stories on Friday to offer her own response as she also slammed the ‘online abuse’ she has faced

Lively explained to her followers that she never wanted to be a part of a lawsuit, but did so due to the ‘persuasive RETALLIATION I faced, and continue to, for privately and professionally asking for a safe working environment for myself and others.’ 

She  wrote that she still hopes others will have the courage to ‘speak up.’ 

‘Don’t be distracted by the digital soap opera,’ the actress typed, before expressing that adding labels to the lawsuit such as ‘Celebrity Drama’ is ‘irresponsible.’ 

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

She also discussed manipulation that can occur online and warned that children with phones ‘are some of the most vulnerable.’ 

‘Studies estimate that between 16% and 58% of women have experienced online abuse or stalking, with 97% of gender-based violence service providers reporting technology-facilitated abuse in their cases.’ 

Lively added that she is ‘proud’ over the steps that have been taken to ‘expose systems, tactics and players who harm.’ 

The star sent gratitude to others who have spoken up before her and also said she is thankful to the support she has received.   

Along with her sexual harassment claims, Judge Lewis Liman additionally dismissed fat-shaming allegations that she made against her It Ends With Us co-star and director; Baldoni seen in 2024 in NYC 

‘I’m grateful for the Court’s ruling which allows the heart of my case to be presented to a jury next month, and for the ability to finally tell my story in full at trial, for my own sake,’ she wrote; seen in February in NYC 

The actress also posted a statement from her attorney Mike Gottlieb as she still prepares to go to trial 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 it’s a privilege to be able to stand up. I will not waste it. Your support keeps me going.’

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

‘It is completely unsurprising that Bryan Freedman does not understand the court’s actual ruling,’ he said, referring to Baldoni’s attorney. 

‘He didn’t even argue the summary judgement motion he’s now spinning, had to bring in another law firm for the trial, and just last week was reprimanded by the court for having filed legally frivolous claims.’

Gottlieb then said that the court holds Lively ‘provided sufficient evidence’ on other claims including: ‘She reasonably believed, in good faith, that the behavior she privately raised concerns about was unlawful sexual harassment.’

Her attorney also shared a quote from the Court in regards to her sexual harassment claims. 

It read: ‘A person in her position could have understood the workplace to at times reflect a gendered and sexualized view and a disregard for their privacy sufficient to make it reasonable to complain about a hostile work environment based on sex or gender.”‘ 

Gottlieb concluded with, ‘The retaliation Ms. Lively faced for privately speaking up for a safe working environment has always been the beating heart of her case.

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’; seen in 2025 in NYC 

‘It is completely unsurprising that Bryan Freedman does not understand the court’s actual ruling,’ Lively’s lawyer said, referring to Baldoni’s attorney; Baldoni seen in February in NYC 

‘It is why she filed her lawsuit. The Court found ample evidence to move her case forward. We look forward to trial on May 18.’ 

Baldoni’s other attorneys, Alexandra Shapiro and Jonathan Bach, have also reacted to his recent legal victory. 

‘We’re very pleased the Court dismissed all sexual harassment claims and every claim brought 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 review of the facts, law and voluminous evidence that was provided.’

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

The judge threw out 10 of the 13 claims in Lively’s lawsuit this week. 

It was also revealed on Friday that lawyers for both Lively and Baldoni have been unexpectedly called to discuss their latest openness to settling their case. 

The attorneys in the long-running case have been told to call US Magistrate Judge Sarah Cave on Monday in separate sessions. 

Shapiro and Bach added that Lively’s lawsuit ‘is a significantly narrowed case, and we look forward to presenting our defense to the remaining claims in court’; Baldoni seen in 2024 in NYC 

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

The public will not be allowed to hear what is said on the two calls on Monday.

The first is with Lively’s lawyers at 3pm and those for Baldoni and his company Wayfarer Productions are to be held one hour later.

Both sides have been told they should address ‘their client’s updated settlement position.’

Lively’s lawyer Michael Gottlieb insisted that doesn’t mean it is all over. He said the actress is looking forward to the trial scheduled for next month.

In a statement to the Daily Mail, Gottlieb said the jury will still hear her claims about sexual harassment, which he called ‘the beating heart’ of the case. 

The messy feud boils down to Baldoni’s alleged harassment of Lively on set, and what she claimed was a smear campaign orchestrated by him and his team in the aftermath of the disastrous production. 

The lawsuit was quickly reported on by The New York Times, which accused Baldoni and his colleagues of orchestrating a smear campaign against Lively; seen in 2024 in NYC 

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

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

Baldoni immediately denied the allegations. He then sued The New York Times, Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds.

Both cases were thrown out and Lively’s outstanding complaints were consolidated into one case, to be argued in New York in May.

A spokesperson for WME agency voiced support for Lively in a statement to Deadline on Friday after the judge’s latest ruling this week; seen in 2024 in L.A. 

At the time Lively filed her lawsuit against Baldoni, he was dropped from his talent agency WME. 

A spokesperson for the agency voiced support for Lively in a statement to Deadline on Friday after the judge’s latest ruling this week. 

‘In an industry that too often asks women to absorb the damage and stay quiet, Blake Lively chose to stand up for herself, her castmates, and those without the ability to fight back.’ 

The spokesperson added, ‘She has met this moment with courage, moral clarity, and extraordinary determination.’