Blake Lively has promised to carry on her legal battle against a male co-star despite the majority of her claims being dismissed.
In a statement, the 38-year-old actress said she was “grateful” to the judge who threw out key parts of her sexual harassment claim against Justin Baldoni.
She said the ruling “allows the heart of my case to be presented to a jury” and for her to “finally tell my story in full at trial”.
Lively had sued Baldoni, who directed and starred alongside her in the 2024 film It Ends with Us, alleging he had harassed her by kissing and caressing her during filming.
Her lawyers claimed Baldoni was “consistently inappropriate” and “kissed, nuzzled and touched” her without her consent.
But on Thursday at a New York court, US District Judge Lewis Liman threw out her sexual harassment claims, concluding Baldoni was just “acting in the scene”.
Sexual harassment was one of 10 claims brought by Lively, which also included conspiracy and defamation, to be dismissed by the judge.
Only three of her claims will be heard at trial: breach of contract, retaliation, and aiding and abetting in retaliation.
After the ruling, she wrote on Instagram: “I’m grateful for the court’s ruling, which allows the heart of my case to be presented to a jury next month, and for the ability to finally tell my story in full at trial, for my own sake…
“But also for those who don’t have the same opportunity to... many of whom I have known and loved deeply in my life, and the countless I’ll never know.”
She said she never wanted to launch her legal battle, but did so because of “persuasive retaliation I face, and continue to, for privately and professionally asking for a safe working environment for myself and others”.
‘I will never stop doing my part’
Lively urged her followers not to be “distracted by the digital soap opera,” claiming that those who described her lawsuit merely as a “celebrity drama” were being “irresponsible”.
Writing on her social media account, she urged parents to “protect” children – “some of the most vulnerable” – who use phones by having conversations with them about the dangers of “online abuse” and “digital warfare”.
She added: “It affects us all. Across the political spectrum. Pay attention to all the ways we can be manipulated online…
“The physical pain from digital violence is very real. It is abuse. And it’s everywhere. Not just in the news, but in your communities and schools.”
She concluded: “I will never stop doing my part to expose the systems and people who seek to harm, shame, silence and retaliate against victims. I know it’s a privilege to be able to stand up. I will not waste it. Your support keeps me going.”
In his ruling, Judge Liman concluded that Baldoni’s conduct during filming appeared to be “directed to Lively’s character rather than Lively herself”.
He wrote: “Assuming he was improvising, the conduct was not so far beyond what might reasonably be expected to take place between two characters during a slow-dancing scene…
“Creative artists, no less than comedy room writers, must have some amount of space to experiment within the bounds of an agreed script without fear of being held liable for sexual harassment.”
After the ruling, Sigrid McCawley, one of the actress’s lawyers, said her client “looks forward to testifying,” and showing the efforts made to destroy her reputation “because she stood up for safety on the set”.
Baldoni has always denied Lively’s allegations. He and his production company counter-sued her and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, the Deadpool actor, over claims that she had attempted to “destroy” his reputation. A judge dismissed Baldoni’s claims last June.