Actress Blake Lively has taken a significant step in her legal battle with director Justin Baldoni, recently attempting to withdraw two claims related to infliction of emotional distress. Their dispute began after they collaborated on the film *It Ends With Us*, where Lively accused Baldoni of sexual harassment and orchestrating a smear campaign following the film’s release last summer.
Baldoni's legal team sought access to Lively’s medical records, including therapy notes, as part of their defense against her claims of emotional distress, which she described as "severe" and marked by "pain, humiliation, [and] embarrassment." According to reports from Variety, Lively is specifically attempting to remove her claims of intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligent infliction of emotional distress from the court proceedings.
Documents filed by Baldoni's legal representatives revealed that Lively's counsel had communicated her intention to withdraw the emotional distress claims. However, Baldoni's team also noted that Lively did not comply with their request that such a withdrawal be done with prejudice, meaning she could potentially refile these claims in the future.
In response to Baldoni's filings, Lively's legal team condemned the move as "a press stunt" and clarified that they were focusing and streamlining the claims in her case. They further asserted that the legal strategy employed by Baldoni’s team had exposed them to new damages claims under California law, making certain of Lively's original claims unnecessary. Nonetheless, they maintained that Lively is still pursuing her allegations of emotional distress related to sexual harassment and retaliation, alongside substantial claims for compensatory damages.
This legal feud escalated when, in January, Baldoni counter-sued Lively and her husband, actor Ryan Reynolds, on grounds including civil extortion and defamation. The actors have been entrenched in their conflict since *It Ends With Us* premiered, a film based on Colleen Hoover's bestselling novel, where Lively portrays Lily Bloom, a character whose life is entwined with themes of domestic abuse.
In a noteworthy turn of events, singer Taylor Swift was called to testify in the case after allegations surfaced that she influenced Baldoni to accept script rewrites proposed by Lively. Swift's representatives clarified her non-involvement in casting or creative decisions, eventually leading to the dismissal of the subpoena shortly thereafter.
As the court prepares to deliberate on the future of Lively's claims, the ongoing dispute highlights the complexities of navigating personal and professional dynamics within the entertainment industry.
