Blake Lively is seeking $161 million in damages, alleging that a smear campaign during the release of the film “It Ends With Us” caused extensive financial harm to her career and businesses. The claim, detailed in a recent legal disclosure, underscores the severe impact on her earnings from acting, producing, and entrepreneurial ventures.
In the disclosure made public on November 6, 2025, Lively’s attorneys broke down the $161 million into specific categories: $56.2 million for lost income from past and future acting, producing, speaking engagements, and endorsements; $49 million for her beauty brand, Blake Brown; $22 million for her beverage companies, Betty Buzz and Betty Booze; and $34 million for reputational harm based on 65 million negative social media impressions. This figure marks a significant increase from the initial lawsuit, which only stated damages exceeding $75,000, and reflects the preliminary nature of the estimates, subject to expert testimony at trial.
The lawsuit, filed on December 31, 2024, accuses co-star and director Justin Baldoni, producer Jamey Heath, Wayfarer Studios head Steve Sarowitz, and their publicists of sexual harassment and a subsequent retaliation campaign. Lively claims that after she raised concerns about harassment on set, the defendants launched a coordinated effort to “silence” and “eviscerate” her reputation through online vitriol and defamatory statements, aiming to preempt any public disclosure of her allegations.
Legal proceedings are advancing, with a trial scheduled for March 2025. Lively’s legal team intends to seek punitive damages of at least three times the actual damages, potentially totaling over $480 million, emphasizing the severity of the alleged misconduct. The disclosure notes that the damages are not final and will require validation through expert testimony, highlighting the complexities of quantifying reputational and financial losses in such cases.
In response, Baldoni had filed a $400 million defamation lawsuit against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, in January 2025, but it was dismissed by a federal judge in June 2025. Baldoni’s lawyers stated they chose not to amend the complaint to preserve appeal rights, focusing instead on defending against Lively’s claims. This dismissal has strengthened Lively’s position as she pursues her case, with both sides preparing for a contentious legal battle.
The witness list includes prominent figures like Taylor Swift, Emily Blunt, and Hugh Jackman, though it is unlikely many will testify, as their inclusion is primarily for informational purposes. The high-profile nature of the case has drawn significant media attention, reflecting the broader implications for how harassment and retaliation are handled in the entertainment industry.
This case could set precedents for damage claims in similar disputes, influencing corporate behavior and accountability in Hollywood. As the trial approaches, the outcome may highlight the financial and personal toll of smear campaigns in the digital age, potentially leading to stricter measures against such tactics in the future.