Actress Blake Lively is attempting to withdraw her emotional abuse allegations against It Ends With Us producer Justin Baldoni—but not permanently. While Lively wants the option to refile in the future, Baldoni’s legal team argues the charges should be dismissed for good to prevent strategic exploitation.
The legal standoff, reported by Variety, escalated after Baldoni requested access to Lively’s mental health records to challenge her claims of severe emotional distress. Lively’s attorneys call the countersuit a “publicity drama,” and maintain that they aim to streamline the case while preserving their right to reassert serious accusations—including sexual harassment and retaliation—later on.
The dispute stems from incidents dating back to December 2024, when Lively alleged abusive conduct during the filming of the movie. Baldoni responded with a countersuit, accusing Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, of defamation and an attempted $400 million extortion.
With at least six legal cases now pending and new filings continuing, the court must decide whether to allow Lively’s conditional dismissal and whether her mental health records will be admitted. The case remains mired in controversy and far from resolution.
