November 2025
Actress and businesswoman Blake Lively has taken her legal fight with filmmaker Justin Baldoni to a new level, filing documents that seek more than US $161 million in damages. The court filing accuses Baldoni and his production company of launching a “targeted smear campaign” that allegedly caused severe damage to her professional reputation, brand partnerships, and personal businesses.
According to details disclosed in federal filings this month, Lively’s legal team claims the alleged campaign resulted in tens of millions of dollars in lost income and business opportunities. The filing breaks down the claim into roughly US $56 million in career earnings, US $71 million in company revenue losses, and another US $34 million attributed to reputational harm.
Lively’s attorneys describe the damages as “significant and ongoing,” saying the fallout has affected her acting career as well as her ventures in beauty and beverages. The suit also asks for punitive damages and coverage of legal fees.
Background of the Dispute
The conflict stems from tensions that reportedly began on the set of It Ends With Us (2024), which Baldoni directed and co-produced. Lively’s filing states that after she raised concerns about workplace issues, she faced retaliation in the form of damaging stories and online narratives that she says were coordinated to discredit her.
Earlier this year, Baldoni filed a separate US $400 million defamation suit against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and related companies. That case was dismissed in June 2025 by a U.S. federal judge, who ruled that several of Baldoni’s claims were not legally sustainable.
Where the Case Stands
Lively’s case is still active and scheduled for trial in March 2026 in New York. Her team says the financial estimates will be supported through expert testimony and documentation of brand losses and canceled projects. Representatives for both Lively and Baldoni have declined to comment publicly on the ongoing litigation.
Industry Impact
Legal and entertainment experts say the lawsuit highlights how intertwined celebrity image and business ventures have become. “For someone like Blake Lively, reputation equals revenue,” said Los Angeles entertainment lawyer Dana Marks. “When a public figure’s credibility is damaged, it can affect everything from film offers to product sales.”
The $161 million claim remains an allegation until proven in court. Whether the parties reach a private settlement or proceed to trial, the case is already being viewed as one of Hollywood’s most high-profile legal battles of the year.
