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.’ 

INDIANAPOLIS — Yaxel Lendeborg had come to terms with his future. Pursuing higher education wasn’t in his plans.

“I was employed at a warehouse,” the standout forward from Michigan shared on Friday. “I was settling into that routine, thinking this would define my life. I didn’t have any dreams or ambitions beyond it.”

But his mother, Yissel Raposo, had other plans. She insisted he enroll in junior college.

Fast forward six years, the 6-foot-9 senior from Pennsauken, N.J., is gearing up for the Final Four.

Before long, he’s expected to be an NBA draft pick, with a potential to be chosen in the lottery.

It has been a wild journey.

Three years at Arizona Western College, two years at UAB, and now this past season at Michigan. In high school, Lendeborg admittedly “slacked off all four years.”

“I had no confidence in myself when I went to JUCO,” he recalled. “I didn’t want to go anyway, so it was like I was just wasting time. The journey has really felt like a dream, every step of the way. I went through so much. Mentally, it was definitely draining. There were many times I wanted to give up, I wanted to quit.”

Raposo wouldn’t let him. At Arizona Western, Lendeborg developed into a junior college All-American. Initially, he committed to St. John’s under former coach Mike Anderson. But when Anderson was fired, he decommitted and landed at UAB. There, he was one of the top mid-major players in the country. After his second season there, in which he averaged 17.7 points, 11.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.8 blocks, Lendeborg entered the transfer portal while putting his name into the NBA Draft. 

He would’ve likely been a late first-round pick, but he didn’t feel ready to make the jump. He also wanted the opportunity to play for the Wolverines. 

Lendeborg felt a bond with Michigan coach Dusty May. May spent plenty of time building a relationship with Lendeborg, even though it was very much up in the air if he would get to coach him. 

“He was with me throughout the whole process,” Lendeborg said. “That meant a lot to me.”

He couldn’t have imagined a season like this. Lendeborg has led Michigan to a 35-3 record, was an Associated Press first-team All-American and the Big Ten Player of the Year. He added Midwest Region Most Outstanding Player last weekend. 

“Everything has been falling into place so far,” said Lendeborg, averaging 21 points, 7.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists and shooting 50 percent from 3-point range in the NCAA Tournament. “We have two more wins and everything will be perfect.”

In a historic and deeply symbolic act, Pope Leo XIV carried a wooden cross through all 14 stations of the Way of the Cross at the Colosseum on his first Good Friday as the leader of the Catholic Church. This marked a significant moment as it was the first time in many years that a pope personally bore the cross to each station.

Speaking to reporters at Castel Gandolfo earlier in the week, Pope Leo XIV shared the significance of this gesture. “I believe it will serve as an important sign because of what the pope represents—a spiritual leader in today’s world,” he remarked. “There is a universal longing to hear a voice that acknowledges Christ’s enduring suffering, and I carry all this suffering in my prayer.”

The solemn procession began inside the Colosseum, where Pope Leo, accompanied by two torchbearers, lifted the cross and commenced the rite. The procession moved through the crowd outside and ascended the steep stairs of the Palatine Hill, where the pope concluded with a final blessing after an hour-long journey.

At the first station, which signifies the moment Jesus was condemned to death, a meditation was delivered, crafted specifically for Pope Leo’s inaugural Good Friday observance. This reflection highlighted the accountability of those in positions of authority, emphasizing that they will ultimately answer to God for their exercise of power.

Rev. Francesco Patton, who served as the custodian of the Holy Land from 2016 to 2025, prepared the meditation. It read, “The power to judge; the power to start or end a war; the power to instill violence or peace; the power to fuel the desire for revenge, or for reconciliation,” underscoring the profound moral responsibilities borne by those who wield influence over others.

Some 30,000 faithful gathered outside the pagan monument, following the stations as they were recited over loud speakers.

They included Sister Pelenatita Kieoma Finau from Samoa and a member of the Missionary Sisters of the Society of Mary.

“We have been part of our parish stations of the cross, but this is so exciting. It is very meaningful to have the experience of being with the people of Rome on this special occasion,” she said.

Past processions

John Paul II carried the cross for the entire procession from his first Good Friday as pontiff in 1979 until his hip surgery in 1995, when he carried it just part of the way, according to AP reports at the time.

For the first two years of his papacy, Benedict XVI carried the cross for the first station inside the Colosseum, then followed other bearers in the procession that ends on a platform on the Palatine Hill.

Pope Francis never carried the cross, but participated in the procession until his health worsened. He died after a long illness last year on Easter Monday, which fell on April 21.

Pope John Paul II was just 58 when he became pope, and was known as a hiker and outdoorsman. His two successors were in their late 70s when they began their papacies, and Francis was missing part of a lung due to a pulmonary infection as a young man.

The Way of the Cross commemorates the final hours of Jesus’ life, from his death sentence to taking up the cross to his crucifixion, death and burial. The procession ends outside the Colosseum atop the Palatine Hill.

“The Way of the Cross is not intended for those who lead a pristinely pious or abstractly recollected life,” Patton wrote in his introduction. “Instead, it is the exercise of one who knows that faith, hope and charity must be incarnated in the real world.”

At 70, Leo is physically fit and an avid tennis player and swimmer. Before becoming pope, Leo would work out regularly at a gym near the Vatican, with a plan befitting a man in his early 50s, according to his former trainer.

The pope’s Holy Week activities

On Holy Saturday, the pontiff will preside over a late night Easter vigil, during which he will baptize new Catholics, and lead Roman Catholics into Christianity’s most joyous celebration marking Christ’s resurrection.

On Easter Sunday, the pope will celebrate an open-air Mass in St. Peter’s Square before delivering his Easter message and offer the traditional “Urbi et Orbi” blessing to the city of Rome and the world.