Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively reportedly declined a last-minute settlement attempt over the latter’s sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit.
The “It Ends With Us” co-stars will meet face-to-face in court next month after failing to end the case during a meeting with a New York City judge on Monday, the Daily Mail reported.
Reps for the duo weren’t immediately available to Page Six for comment.
Attorneys for Baldoni, 42, and Lively, 38, were contacted for last-minute separate meetings to give the judge an update on “their client’s updated settlement position” before the forthcoming trial.
The arrangements were scheduled after 13 of the “Gossip Girl” alum’s allegations against the Wayfarer Studios co-founder were dismissedon Thursday.
Only three claims against Baldoni remain, including breach of contract, retaliation and aiding and abetting in retaliation.
The director’s legal team celebrated the victory, telling Page Six in a statement, “We’re very pleased the Court dismissed all sexual harassment claims and every claim brought against the individual defendants.”
“These were very serious allegations, and we are grateful to the Court for its careful review of the facts, law and voluminous evidence that was provided.”
Lively later spoke out about the court ruling via Instagram, writing in a lengthy statement, “The last thing I wanted in my life was a lawsuit, but I brought this case because of the pervasive RETALIATION I faced, and continued to, for privately and professionally asking for a safe working environment for myself and others.”
Additionally, she shared that she was “grateful” to be able “to finally tell [her] story in full at trial” on May 18.
In a separate post, the actress shared quotes from the court ruling, which read that she had provided “affirmative evidence” regarding her retaliation allegations and Wayfarer Studio’s “intent to spread negative content about her.”
According to the post, the court also ruled that there was “sufficient evidence” that “Wayfarer parties sexually harassed her by creating a hostile work environment.”
Lively’s lawyers told Page Six via a statement that her sexual harassment allegations weren’t going to court “not because the defendants did nothing wrong” but because the court deemed Lively was an independent contractor rather than an employee.
The “Shallows” star accused Baldoni of sexual harassment and retaliation on the “It Ends With Us” set in December 2024. She filed a lawsuitagainst him that same month.
Baldoni vehemently denied Lively’s allegations and responded with a $400 million lawsuit against her and her husband, Ryan Reynolds. A judge ultimately tossed out the lawsuit on June 25.
As the saga continues, several A-listers, including Taylor Swift and Reynolds’ ex-wife, Scarlett Johansson, have since been name-dropped in unsealed documents.
The post Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni reject settlement talks as trial looms: report appeared first on Page Six.
