![\"Nell](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/bc62508ef19b6e2feedd5afa6e558d56c3864d75.png\")
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April 7, 2026 \u2014 10:00am<\/p>\n
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Remove items from your saved list<\/a> to add more.<\/p>\n Save this article for later<\/p>\n Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime.<\/p>\n Got it<\/p>\n AAA<\/p>\n Blake Lively has responded to a US federal judge\u2019s ruling that dismissed most of the claims<\/a> she brought against her It Ends With Us co-star and director, Justin Baldoni, imploring people to ignore the \u201cdigital soap opera\u201d and focus instead on the pain caused by digital violence.<\/p>\n US district judge Lewis Liman handed down the decision last Thursday (Friday AEDT) in Manhattan after more than a year of heated litigation over the 2024 film, which was adapted from Colleen Hoover\u2019s best-selling romantic drama.<\/p>\n \u201cThe last thing I wanted in my life was a lawsuit, but I brought this case because of the pervasive RETALIATION I faced, and continue to, for privately and professionally asking for a safe working environment for myself and others,\u201d the actor wrote on Instagram on Tuesday<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cI hope the Court\u2019s decision shows others that, as unfathomably painful as it is, you can speak up,\u201d she continued. \u201cDon\u2019t be distracted by the digital soap opera. The constant packaging of this lawsuit as a \u2018Celebrity Drama\u2019 is not only irresponsible, but it is by design: to keep you from seeing yourselves in my story. The physical pain from digital violence is very real.\u201d<\/p>\n Lively, 38, sued Baldoni, production company Wayfarer Studios and others in December 2024, seeking unspecified damages for alleged sexual harassment, defamation, invasion of privacy and violations of federal and state civil rights laws. Baldoni, 42, denied all allegations against him, claiming that he resolved the actor\u2019s concerns as soon as she raised them.<\/p>\n Last week, Liman dismissed Lively\u2019s sexual harassment claims against Baldoni and other defendants on jurisdictional grounds, saying she had sued under a California law, but the alleged wrongful conduct took place elsewhere.<\/p>\n The judge said Lively might pursue a retaliation claim against Baldoni\u2019s production company Wayfarer Studios, as well as a contract claim and an aiding and abetting claim against various defendants.<\/p>\n In response, Lively said she is grateful the court\u2019s ruling will allow her to present \u201cthe heart of her case\u201d to a jury next month.<\/p>\n Related Article \u201cIf you\u2019re looking, my claims won\u2019t be the first or last time you\u2019ll see examples of the extreme dangers of retaliation and digital warfare. And it often won\u2019t be directed at celebrities or those who may be able to speak up,\u201d she said on Tuesday.<\/p>\n \u201cIt affects us all. Across the political spectrum. Pay attention to all the ways we can be manipulated online. Digital manipulation has been boasted (sic) as \u2018untraceable\u2019. If you have kids on phones, they are some of the most vulnerable. Protect them.\u201d<\/p>\n The actor, who has maintained a relatively low profile since filing her lawsuit against Baldoni, went on to cite studies estimating \u201cbetween 16 per cent and 58 per cent of women have experienced online abuse or stalking, with 97 per cent of gender-based violence service providers reporting technology-facilitated abuse in their cases\u201d.<\/p>\n She expressed gratitude to those who have fought similar battles before her, helping to create new laws and trigger social change.<\/p>\n \u201cI will never stop doing my part in fighting to expose the systems and people who seek to harm, shame, silence and retaliate against victims. I know it\u2019s a privilege to be able to stand up. I will not waste it. Your support keeps me going,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n The It Ends With Us legal saga has captivated Hollywood since late 2024. It has drawn in famous names such as pop juggernaut Taylor Swift<\/a>, model Gigi Hadid and actor Hugh Jackman, all of whom, according to Lively, might have information supporting her claims.<\/p>\n In January 2025, Baldoni sued Lively and her husband, actor Ryan Reynolds, for defamation, saying they tried to destroy his reputation, but Liman dismissed that case last June.<\/p>\n A select number of Lively\u2019s claims, including retaliation, will go to trial on May 18.<\/p>\n With Reuters<\/p>\n Find out the next TV, streaming series and movies to add to your must-sees. Get The Watchlist<\/a> delivered every Thursday.<\/p>\n Save<\/p>\n You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n Remove items from your saved list<\/a> to add more.<\/p>\n![\"Blake](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0d0f1aef5159cc4e9e84888e514f4e2ef9bfcdb2.jpeg\")
Blake Lively has responded to a federal court\u2019s ruling that dismissed the majority of her claims against her It Ends With Us co-star Justin Baldoni.AP<\/p>\n![\"Private](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/91884b748fa786773776a4748245857da4ace0d2.jpeg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Blake](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/3d56cb66d0486a4829141de6d4119b6759858b03.jpeg\")
Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni co-starred in It End With Us in 2024. Baldoni also directed the film.AP<\/p>\n![\"Nell](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/bc62508ef19b6e2feedd5afa6e558d56c3864d75.png\")
Nell Geraets<\/a> is a Culture and Lifestyle reporter at The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via X<\/a> or email<\/a>.From our partners