Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni were forced into settlement talks — and they walked out with no deal
NEW YORK — Actor Blake Lively and director Justin Baldoni attended a court-mandated settlement conference in Manhattan aimed at resolving Lively’s lawsuit before a scheduled May trial — but they left without a settlement after hours behind closed doors, according to the Associated Press.
The case has been drawing heavy attention because it mixes celebrity, a recent film project, and explosive allegations on both sides. AP reported Lively sued Baldoni over claims of sexual harassment and defamation tied to their work on the 2024 film It Ends With Us. Baldoni has denied wrongdoing.
AP reported the settlement effort lasted roughly six hours at the federal courthouse. Both parties declined to comment afterward, with AP describing Lively as stern and Baldoni smiling as they left.
Part of why this is “blowing up” online is that the case is being treated like a celebrity courtroom thriller — not just a civil dispute. AP reported the lawsuit has become high-profile across entertainment circles, and it’s expected to be closely watched as it heads toward trial. The settlement conference is required in many federal cases specifically because judges prefer parties to explore resolution before turning a dispute into weeks of public testimony and discovery fights.
The lack of a settlement doesn’t mean one can’t happen later. It does mean the case continues on a path where depositions, evidence fights, and witness lists can become public and turn into new headlines — especially when the parties are famous enough that even routine filings can trigger social-media storms.
It’s also a reminder of how celebrity legal battles function now: they’re rarely contained to the courtroom. The “narrative” often becomes a parallel arena, with fans and critics framing every development as a win, a loss, or proof of a bigger point about Hollywood power dynamics. That attention can raise the temperature for everyone involved — and can make settlement harder, because neither side wants to look like they blinked.
