Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni Fail to Reach Settlement in Harassment Lawsuit

The legal battle between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni is headed toward trial after a full day of court-ordered mediation ended without a settlement.

The former co-stars of It Ends With Us arrived separately at a federal courthouse in New York on Friday morning. They spent hours on the 14th floor in separate rooms as lawyers and a judge attempted to broker a resolution to Lively’s sexual harassment lawsuit. By day’s end, both actors exited without speaking to reporters.

Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, confirmed that no agreement had been reached. While he acknowledged a deal could still happen, he appeared doubtful. When asked whether he expected the case to go to trial, Freedman replied, “I do. We’re looking forward to it.”

The mediation was overseen by Magistrate Judge Sarah L. Cave and is a routine part of federal court proceedings. Although both sides had previously met with the judge in person, there were few signs heading into Friday that a breakthrough was imminent.

Lively filed the lawsuit accusing Baldoni of harassing her during production of It Ends With Us. She also alleges that after she raised concerns, Baldoni and his publicists orchestrated a smear campaign to damage her reputation.

Baldoni has denied the allegations. His legal team recently filed a summary judgment motion asking Judge Lewis Liman to dismiss the case or significantly narrow it before trial. They argue that the claims amount to “petty grievances” that do not meet the legal standard for harassment.

Lively’s attorneys strongly disagree. They contend that her allegations are serious, legally sound, and supported by other actors who allegedly had concerns about Baldoni’s conduct on set. Her legal team maintains that the claims deserve to be heard by a jury.

Unless a settlement is reached in the coming weeks, the case is scheduled to go to trial on May 18. With both sides digging in, a courtroom showdown now appears increasingly likely.