By Blake Lively is pressing forward with her lawsuit against It Ends With Us director Justin Baldoni — but sources close to the actress say her legal strategy is backfiring. With a civil trial set for May 18 in New York and key claims already dismissed, the pressure on Lively is mounting fast.
What Happened at the Courthouse
Judge Lewis Liman dismissed 10 of the original 13 allegations in Blake Lively’s lawsuit against Justin Baldoni. The ruling was a significant blow to her case.
Three claims survived the dismissal: breach of contract, retaliation, and aiding and abetting in retaliation. Those three claims are now headed to a civil trial in New York, scheduled for May 18, 2026.
The dismissal was widely reported, including by the BBC. Legal analysts noted that losing 10 of 13 claims heading into trial is a meaningful setback, regardless of how it is framed publicly.
3 Legal Risks Blake Lively Now Faces
1. A Weakened Case Going Into Trial
Sources familiar with the matter told journalist Rob Shuter that people in Lively’s inner circle believe the dismissed claims have made her position “weaker now, not stronger.”
With only three remaining claims, her legal team will need to build a compelling narrative around breach of contract and retaliation — without the sexual harassment claims that originally shaped the public conversation.
That is a harder argument to make in a courtroom, and a harder story to tell to the public.
2. Reputation Damage That Keeps Compounding
The Blake Lively lawsuit story has been running for months. Each new development keeps both her and Justin Baldoni in the headlines — and not always favorably for either side.
Sources close to Lively told Shuter that people around her are “begging her to settle,” warning that continuing will cost her more than she stands to gain. The longer the case drags on, the greater the toll on her professional reputation.
Lively has had major brand partnerships, a production career, and a carefully cultivated public image at stake. Prolonged litigation risks eroding all three.
3. The Personal Toll on Her Marriage
Perhaps the most striking claim in recent reporting is that even Ryan Reynolds — Lively’s husband and her most prominent public supporter — is feeling the strain. Sources say Reynolds is “starting to wobble” under the pressure.
The couple has generally kept their marriage private and presented a united front through the controversy. If that dynamic is shifting, it signals that the legal battle is moving beyond professional consequence and into personal territory.
Ryan Reynolds Is Starting to “Wobble”
Ryan Reynolds has stood by Blake Lively publicly since the lawsuit first emerged. The Deadpool star has not made any direct public statements attacking Baldoni, but his visible support of his wife has been consistent.
That consistency may now be under pressure. According to sources cited by Shuter, the toll on careers, image, and personal relationships has become harder to ignore.
Reynolds built his own brand carefully over years — the Aviation Gin persona, the Wrexham AFC ownership story, and the self-deprecating social media presence. That brand depends on goodwill. A prolonged, messy legal battle involving his wife damages the halo around his own public image, even if indirectly.
There is no indication Reynolds plans to withdraw his support. But sources suggest the weight of the situation is affecting the couple in ways that were not visible earlier in the case.
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The “Digital Violence” Framing Explained
Blake Lively has chosen to frame her legal battle in broader terms. According to sources, she sees it not just as a personal dispute with Baldoni but as “a fight about digital violence and speaking out.”
This framing is deliberate. It positions Lively as a public advocate rather than simply a litigant, connecting her case to wider conversations about how women in Hollywood are treated and how coordinated media campaigns can be weaponized against them.
Lively’s original complaint alleged that Baldoni and his PR team ran a smear campaign against her following tensions on the set of It Ends With Us. That allegation — the PR campaign angle — drew significant media attention when the lawsuit was first filed.
But the courtroom is a different arena than public opinion. Sources suggest that while the “digital violence” framing may resonate with certain audiences, it does not necessarily translate into legal leverage with only three claims remaining.
Critics of her strategy argue that keeping the case in the public eye through wide-angle framing prolongs the reputational damage rather than containing it.
What Comes Next for Blake Lively
The civil trial is scheduled for May 18, 2026, in New York. Between now and then, both legal teams will continue pre-trial proceedings.
Baldoni’s legal team has consistently pushed back against Lively’s claims, and the dismissal of 10 allegations gives them a stronger position heading into court. At the same time, the three surviving claims — particularly retaliation — still carry real legal weight.
Several outcomes are possible. The case could settle before May 18, which sources suggest some in Lively’s circle are actively advocating for. The trial could proceed as scheduled, with a verdict expected later in 2026. Or further pre-trial motions could reshape what actually goes before a jury.
What is clear is that both Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni face continued scrutiny regardless of how the legal process resolves. The case has already reshaped how the It Ends With Us film is remembered, and its legacy will follow both parties for years.
For Lively in particular, the question is whether staying the course is an act of principle — or whether those around her are right that the cost is becoming too high.
Final Takeaway
Blake Lively‘s decision to press forward despite losing 10 of 13 claims is either a statement of conviction or a miscalculation — possibly both. Her inner circle appears divided. Ryan Reynolds is reportedly feeling the strain. And a trial is now weeks away.
Whatever happens on May 18, this case has already changed the narrative around one of Hollywood’s most recognizable couples.
Follow the Blake Lively trial updates closely — the outcome could set a precedent for how Hollywood handles behind-the-scenes misconduct claims.
