Blake Lively is attempting to withdraw her allegations of emotional distress against director Justin Baldoni amid legal disputes over their ongoing litigation surrounding the film “It Ends With Us.” According to a filing dated Monday, Baldoni’s legal team requested a HIPAA release to access Lively’s medical records, including her therapy notes, as part of their defense.
Lively’s representatives have sought to retract her emotional distress claims, but Baldoni’s team argued that her approach is inadequate. The filing stated that Lively is only willing to withdraw her claims “without prejudice,” which would allow her to potentially re-file them later, instead of “with prejudice,” which would prevent her from bringing those claims again.
The filing emphasized that Lively cannot expect to retract her claims while withholding necessary evidence that could refute her allegations. In response to these developments, the matter is now in the hands of Judge Lewis Limon, who will determine whether Lively can proceed with her withdrawal and under what terms.
Lively originally filed her claims against Baldoni in December 2024 after he initiated a defamation lawsuit against the New York Times concerning the working conditions on the set of “It Ends With Us.” Her lawyers characterized the situation as a typical litigation maneuver, criticizing Baldoni’s team for what they call an effort to generate media coverage.
Furthermore, Lively’s lawsuit includes serious accusations beyond emotional distress, such as claims of sexual harassment and retaliation, seeking substantial compensatory damages. Her legal team argues that as the litigation evolves, certain claims may become unnecessary, hinting at a strategy to streamline the case.
The outcome of this legal battle remains uncertain, but it serves to highlight the complexities often involved in celebrity-related lawsuits, where personal and professional grievances intertwine.