Blake Lively drops ‘distress’ claims after Justin Baldoni seeks medical records
Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni. Image: Scott A Garfitt, Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File
Blake Lively is dropping her “emotional distress” claims against Justin Baldoni after the latter’s lawyers sought the former’s medical records to prove that she suffered distress while they were working on “It Ends With Us.”
The decision comes after a request from Baldoni’s legal team for access to Lively’s medical and mental health records, including therapy notes, which the actress declined to provide.
“Instead of complying with the Medical RFPs, Ms. Lively’s counsel recently advised us, in writing, that Ms. Lively is withdrawing her infliction of emotional distress claims,” stated a filing sent to the press on Tuesday, June 3.
Baldoni’s lawyers opposed the withdrawal unless it is “with prejudice,” which would prevent Lively from refiling those charges in the future.
“In other words, Ms. Lively wants to simultaneously: (a) refuse to disclose the information and documents needed to disprove that she suffered any emotional distress and/or that the Wayfarer Parties were the cause; and (b) maintain the right to re-file her IED Claims at an unknown time in this or some other court after the discovery window has closed,” read the filing.
Lively’s attorneys, on the other hand, told Variety that Baldoni’s recent move was a “procedural strategy” to streamline the case ahead of the scheduled trial in March 2026. They emphasized that the actress is still pursuing other serious allegations, including sexual harassment and retaliation.
In December 2024, Lively filed a case against Baldoni, accusing him of sexual harassment and retaliatory behavior during the filming of their romantic drama. In response, Baldoni filed a $400 million countersuit against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, alleging defamation and extortion.
Lively’s close friend Taylor Swift was also recently subpoenaed in the ongoing legal battle involving the “It Ends with Us” co-actors, a move described by the pop star’s camp as “designed to use [her] name to draw public interest.” /edv
