Blake Lively withdraws Emotional Distress Claims Against Justin Baldoni

The legal drama surrounding It Ends With Us director Justin Baldoni and actress Blake Lively just took another unexpected turn. Lively is now attempting to withdraw two major claims she originally filed—intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligent infliction of emotional distress. This development adds a new layer of tension in a courtroom battle that already includes accusations of sexual harassment, retaliation, defamation, and even extortion.

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Lively’s decision comes as Baldoni’s legal team moves forward in requesting access to her private therapy notes and medical records. These documents are typically fair game in cases involving emotional damage, and Baldoni’s team argues that they are crucial to defending against her claims.

But Lively’s lawyers are pushing back. They want the emotional distress claims removed without prejudice, meaning they could be refiled in the future. Baldoni’s camp, however, is demanding the claims be withdrawn with prejudice, to prevent them from ever being brought up again.

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A court filing by Baldoni’s legal team stated, “Ms. Lively wants to simultaneously: (a) refuse to disclose the information and documents needed to disprove that she suffered any emotional distress… and (b) maintain the right to re-file her IED Claims at an unknown time.”

Lively’s Lawyers Call It a Legal Maneuver

Esra Hudson and Mike Gottlieb, Lively’s attorneys, dismissed the latest filing as “a press stunt.” They argue that Lively is simply narrowing the focus of her case. “The Baldoni-Wayfarer strategy of filing retaliatory claims has exposed them to expansive new damages claims under California law,” they said. “Ms. Lively continues to allege emotional distress, as part of numerous other claims in her lawsuit.”

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Her legal team also pointed out that the other claims—particularly those relating to sexual harassment and retaliation—still seek significant compensatory damages. The emotional distress component is far from erased from the lawsuit.

The Court Must Now Decide

With both sides digging in, it’s now up to the judge to rule on whether Lively will be forced to comply with the discovery requests or if her claims can be dropped without further requirements. Normally, in cases where someone alleges mental anguish, the law allows the defense to access medical records to determine if the distress is real and linked to the accused.

Baldoni’s filing argues that since Lively placed her mental health at issue, she has automatically waived any doctor-patient privilege. “By alleging that she suffered physical and emotional injuries… Ms. Lively must produce relevant information and documents including psychiatric records,” the filing says.

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Claims of Harassment and Smear Campaign Still Stand

Lively’s lawsuit against Baldoni was first filed in December. It includes serious accusations that she was sexually harassed by both Baldoni and producer Jamey Heath. She also claims she became the target of a coordinated smear campaign after raising complaints about her treatment on the set of It Ends With Us, which went on to gross $351 million globally on a modest $25 million budget.

Even though Lively is trying to drop her emotional distress claims, her lawyers insist that her lawsuit remains strong. They argue that the retaliation she faced, combined with the public and private pressure from Baldoni’s associates, caused real harm and that she is still pursuing justice through other legal avenues.

Baldoni’s Countersuit and Ongoing Legal War

Adding more weight to the situation, Justin Baldoni has filed a $400 million countersuit against Lively and her husband, actor Ryan Reynolds. In it, Baldoni accuses them of attempted extortion and defamation, claiming they tried to destroy his career with false narratives.

Baldoni is also involved in related lawsuits with his former publicist, Stephanie Jones, whom he accuses of leaking damaging messages that helped fuel the controversy. Altogether, there are now six ongoing lawsuits connected to this increasingly complex web of legal claims.

Tension Remains High Between Both Legal Teams

Both sides continue to release strong statements, reflecting the bitterness of the legal fight. Baldoni’s lawyer, Kevin Fritz, argued in his latest filing that Lively’s move to drop claims while avoiding discovery obligations is legally unfair. “Ms. Lively cannot have it both ways,” Fritz wrote. “Either she dismisses with prejudice or she complies.”

The court has yet to decide whether it will compel Lively to hand over sensitive medical details or allow her to walk away from the claims without closing the door permanently. In Hollywood’s ongoing courtroom showdown, it’s clear that neither side is backing down anytime soon.