Hollywood legal battles usually follow a script. Someone files a suit, reps release a "we look forward to the truth" statement, and then it quietly settles in a boardroom with a non-disclosure agreement. But the saga surrounding blake lively sexual harassment claims has been anything but quiet. It’s messy. It's loud. And honestly, it’s completely upended how we think about power dynamics on a movie set.
By now, you've probably seen the headlines. Maybe you caught the viral clips. But the actual court documents tell a story that's far more complicated than a simple "he said, she said." We’re talking about a trial set for May 18, 2026, involving some of the biggest names in the industry and allegations that range from "inappropriate comments" to a full-blown "social manipulation" campaign.
The It Ends With Us Fallout
It all started during the filming of It Ends with Us. On the surface, things looked fine—until the press tour hit. Fans noticed the stars, Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, weren't even in the same room. No joint interviews. No photos. Just a palpable, awkward silence.
Then, in December 2024, the floor dropped out. Lively filed a legal complaint with the California Civil Rights Department. She didn't just mention creative differences. She alleged sexual harassment.
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According to the filings, the set was a "hostile work environment." Lively claimed Baldoni, who also directed the film, made her feel deeply uncomfortable. The specifics? The complaint alleges he made inappropriate comments about her body and discussed his "previous pornography addiction" in front of her. It wasn't just talk, either. Lively claimed he would enter her makeup trailer uninvited while she was undressed or even breastfeeding her child.
What Most People Get Wrong
People like to simplify this. Some say it's just a diva feud. Others think it’s a PR stunt gone wrong. But the legal documents suggest something much more structural. Lively’s team argued that because Baldoni was the director and a co-founder of Wayfarer Studios, there was literally no HR for her to go to.
Basically, her boss was her alleged harasser.
"I hope that my legal action helps pull back the curtain on these sinister retaliatory tactics... and helps protect others who may be targeted." — Blake Lively, December 2024.
Baldoni hasn't stayed silent. Far from it. He fired back with a massive countersuit (which was later dismissed), claiming Lively was the one "creatively hijacking" the movie. His side of the story? He says the "pornography" Lively mentioned was actually a video of a home birth used for creative research. He also claimed she "fat-shamed" him and made his life a "brutal experience" on set.
It's a lot to process.
The "Buckingham Palace" and Unsealed Texts
Fast forward to early 2026, and the court just unsealed some text messages that give us a "fly on the wall" view. These aren't polished PR statements. These are raw.
In one exchange from late 2023, Baldoni told his agent he feared Lively was "setting me up for a trap." Why? Because she allegedly refused a body double for a love scene. Baldoni claimed she wanted to "keep all of both of our clothes on," which he argued didn't fit the book’s tone. It's a weird reversal—usually, you hear about actors being forced into nudity, not fighting to stay clothed.
Then there’s the "Buckingham Palace" thing. Baldoni testified that Lively insisted meetings happen at her New York penthouse, which she and Ryan Reynolds allegedly nicknamed Buckingham Palace because of all the celebrities who walked through. It’s a detail that doesn't prove harassment, sure, but it paints a picture of the power struggle happening behind the scenes.
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Lively isn't just an actress here; she’s a producer with a massive amount of influence.
Why This Still Matters
This case is a lightning rod because it hits on the "Likeability Factor." During the 2024 press tour, Lively faced a massive backlash. People called her "out of touch" for promoting her hair care line while talking about a movie centered on domestic violence. Old, "mean" interviews resurfaced.
Because she was "unlikeable" in that moment, many on social media dismissed her blake lively sexual harassment claims entirely.
But here’s the thing: being "unlikeable" doesn't mean you can't be harassed. And being "the nice guy" (which was Baldoni’s brand) doesn't mean you can't create a toxic environment. The May 2026 trial is going to be a massive test for Hollywood’s "post-Me Too" infrastructure. It asks if a powerful woman can still be a victim of a powerful man, and whether the "court of public opinion" should have any say in actual legal proceedings.
What Actually Happened with the Makeup Artist?
Wait, there’s more. This isn't Lively’s first brush with this topic. Way back in 2017, she shared a "terrifying" experience with a makeup artist on a different project. She said he would say inappropriate things and even filmed her while she was sleeping.
She told the producers back then. Their response? They complained about her dog's bathroom habits instead.
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She eventually had to hire a lawyer to get him removed. This context is important because it shows that Lively has been navigating these waters for a long time. It explains why she might be more inclined to take the "legal route" now rather than just "handling it" on set.
What Happens Next?
The trial is set for May 18, 2026. Until then, both sides are digging in.
If you’re trying to make sense of it all, focus on these three things:
- The HR Vacuum: This case highlights how "indie" studios (like Wayfarer) often lack the safety nets that major studios have.
- Retaliation vs. Reputation: A huge part of the suit isn't just the harassment, but the "smear campaign" Lively alleges followed her complaints.
- The Evidence: Watch for those unsealed emails. They usually tell a much different story than the TikTok commentary.
The reality is that blake lively sexual harassment allegations have become a Rorschach test for how we view celebrity, power, and workplace safety. Whether you're Team Blake or Team Justin, the outcome of this trial will likely change how contracts are written and how "intimacy coordinators" are used on every set moving forward.
For anyone following this, the best move is to look at the primary court documents rather than the headlines. The nuances of the "home birth video" vs. "pornography" claim, or the "body double trap," are where the case will actually be won or lost. Keep an eye on the May court date—that’s when the real testimony begins.