The legal battle between It Ends With Us stars Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni is intensifying as both parties prepare for a high-stakes courtroom showdown. New reports suggest that Lively’s legal team intends to introduce past comments made by Baldoni regarding pop icon Britney Spears to establish a pattern of behavior and highlight alleged on-set conduct during the production of the romantic drama.
The strategy reportedly centers on a 2017 interview in which Baldoni discussed an interaction with Spears on the set of Jane the Virgin. The move comes as the trial date looms, with both sides appearing entrenched in their positions despite recent attempts at settlement. The case, which has transitioned from a broad set of allegations to a more focused legal dispute, is now scheduled to begin on May 18 in New York.
The friction between the two stars became a global talking point during the film’s promotional tour in August 2024, where rumors of a feud overshadowed the movie’s release. While the film was a significant box-office success, grossing $351 million against a $25 million budget according to Wikipedia, the production was marred by disputes over creative control and professional conduct.
The Britney Spears Connection and Legal Strategy
According to reports from the Daily Mail on April 13, Lively plans to utilize a 2017 interview Baldoni gave to Fuse. During that segment, the Jane the Virgin actor recalled meeting Spears, who had a guest appearance in the series’ second season. Baldoni described an “awkward moment” where he approached the singer with a hug, later questioning in the interview, “Did I just harass Britney Spears?”
This specific reference to “harassment” is reportedly being leveraged by Lively’s counsel to support claims regarding Baldoni’s behavior on the set of It Ends With Us. The connection to Spears has already manifested in Lively’s public appearances; during the August 2024 premiere, the actress wore a rainbow Versace dress famously worn by Spears in 2002. At the time, Lively described Spears as “the ultimate queen” on Instagram, a move some observers later speculated was a subtle dig at Baldoni following allegations of a smear campaign.
Further complicating the narrative are unsealed text messages between Lively and co-star Jenny Slate. In these exchanges, Lively allegedly referenced a conversation where Baldoni joined in on a discussion about staring at Britney Spears’ midsection, according to reported texts.
Court Rulings and the Narrowing Case
Despite the aggressive strategy regarding Baldoni’s past comments, Lively’s legal path has faced significant hurdles. On April 2, Judge Lewis Liman dismissed 10 of the 13 claims filed by Lively against Baldoni and associated parties. This ruling effectively tossed out the sexual harassment claims, significantly narrowing the scope of the litigation.
The remaining claims that will proceed to trial are breach of contract, retaliation, and aiding and abetting in retaliation. Because of these dismissals, Justin Baldoni is no longer a personal defendant in the case. However, he remains tied to the proceedings as a co-founder of Wayfarer Studios, which is named as a corporate defendant alongside It Ends With Us Movie LLC and TAG PR LLC.
Baldoni is still expected to testify. According to court filings reported by PEOPLE, his legal counsel asserts that his testimony is necessary to refute what they describe as “false allegations of a smear campaign.”
Settlement Prospects and Next Steps
The possibility of an out-of-court settlement remains a topic of discussion, though recent efforts have failed. On April 6, attorneys for both Lively and Baldoni rejected the latest settlement proposal, signaling that both parties may be intent on resolving the matter through a jury trial.
Legal experts not involved in the case have noted that settlements can still occur immediately before or even during the course of a trial. However, with the May 18 start date approaching, the momentum appears to be shifting toward a full legal confrontation in New York.
The outcome of this trial could have significant implications for the professional reputations of both the actress and the director, as well as the corporate entities involved in the production of the film.
The next major checkpoint is the commencement of the trial on May 18 in New York. We will continue to monitor court filings for any further developments.
Do you consider the court will allow past interviews to be used as evidence of on-set conduct? Share your thoughts in the comments below.