Blake Lively seeks $8 million in legal fees in Justin Baldoni dispute

Blake Lively is seeking more than $8 million in attorneys’ fees and litigation costs from Justin Baldoni, his production company Wayfarer Studios and the other parties in their now-dismissed $400 million defamation lawsuit, NBC News writes. 

Lively accused Baldoni of sexual harassment during the production of their film “It Ends With Us,” which Baldoni directed and co-starred in. She also alleged that Wayfarer Studios retaliated against her after she complained about allegations of misconduct on the set of the film. Baldoni vehemently denied Lively’s claims.

The star first went public with her allegations in December 2024, roughly four months after their film premiered in theaters. She first lodged a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department, then filed a federal lawsuit.

In a newly filed motion on Tuesday, Lively’s attorneys argue that Baldoni’s lawsuit was brought to punish Lively for reporting alleged sexual harassment and retaliation to California’s Civil Rights Department, rather than to pursue legitimate legal claims.

Her attorneys contend the defendants used the litigation to portray her as dishonest, intimidate potential witnesses, fuel a public relations campaign against her and drive up the cost of her legal defense.

U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman tossed out most of Lively’s claims against Baldoni earlier this year, including harassment, defamation and conspiracy. The two parties reached a settlement deal in May.