Judge Dismisses Most of Blake Lively's Claims Against Justin Baldoni

It's April 2nd, this is Entertainment and Celebrity News.

Today, driven by AI, what everyone's talking about.

A federal judge in New York just dismissed most of Blake Liveley's claims against Justin

Baldoni from their work on the movie It Is With Us.

He threw out the sexual harassment allegations, but kept two retaliation counts alive.

This comes from a 152 page ruling by Judge Louis J. Limon, after Liveley filed sued back

in December 2024.

The judge ruled Liveley was an independent contractor, not an employee, so she couldn't

use federal anti-discrimination laws for the harassment part.

He also said the actions in question fit the script's romantic scenes, like slow dancing

between characters.

Earlier, the judge had already dismissed Baldoni's $400 million counter suit against Liveley,

and her husband Ryan Reynolds.

For defamation, Liveley's team says the real fight is about retaliation for her pushing

for a safer set, and they're glad the playbook behind online attacks is out in the open.

Baldoni's lawyers are thrilled, the harassment claims are gone, calling the case way narrower

now as they gear up for trial.

Trial kicks off May 18th, with a quick phone call right after the ruling to sort jury picks.

The movie, based on a big best seller about romance turning dark with domestic violence,

still crushed it at the box office last August, despite all the behind the scenes buzz.

This saga shines a light on set dynamics in Hollywood, and with retaliation claims heading

to court, expect more revelations as both sides make their cases.