Blake Lively is seeking over $161 million in damages, alleging that a smear campaign linked to the film ‘It Ends With Us’ caused significant financial and reputational harm, as part of an ongoing legal battle over sexual harassment claims.
The damages estimate, detailed in a disclosure document made public this week, includes $56.2 million in lost past and future earnings from acting, producing, speaking engagements, and endorsements. Specifically, $18.3 million covers lost wages from August 2024 through the anticipated trial start in March 2026, while $37.9 million accounts for projected future income reductions. Lively’s legal team emphasizes these figures are preliminary and subject to expert testimony at trial.
Additionally, Lively’s beauty brand, Blake Brown, suffered a $49 million profit hit due to negative publicity, and her beverage company, Betty B Holdings, which includes Betty Buzz and Betty Booze, incurred estimated losses of $22 million. Reputational damage is quantified at $34 million, based on 65 million negative social media impressions generated by the alleged campaign.
Lively’s lawsuit, filed on December 31, 2024, claims that co-star Justin Baldoni and other defendants engaged in “disturbing” sexual harassment during production and then orchestrated a “sophisticated, coordinated, and well-financed” smear campaign to silence her after she raised complaints. She alleges the campaign aimed to “eviscerate” her reputation before she could publicize the harassment.
In response, Baldoni filed a $400 million defamation lawsuit against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, in January 2025, but a federal judge dismissed it in June, ruling that Baldoni could not sue for defamation over allegations made in a legal claim. Baldoni’s legal team has stated they are focusing on defending against Lively’s claims and preserving appeal rights.
The trial for Lively’s lawsuit is scheduled for March 2026, where both sides will present evidence. Legal experts note the high damages figure is strategic, intended to pressure defendants into a settlement. The case has drawn attention for its high-profile nature, with celebrities like Taylor Swift and Hugh Jackman listed as potential witnesses, though their testimony is uncertain.
This dispute underscores broader issues in the entertainment industry regarding workplace behavior and the repercussions of speaking out against harassment. As the case advances, it may influence how similar claims are handled and the assessment of reputational harm in litigation.
