The legal war between "It Ends With Us" co-stars Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni shows no signs of cooling down. Lively has formally requested that a federal judge order Baldoni to pay more than $8 million to cover her mounting legal expenses. The move represents the latest twist in a bitter Hollywood dispute that has captivated entertainment news audiences for months.
The actress filed her request after a judge ruled she was entitled to seek reimbursement following the dismissal of Baldoni’s defamation lawsuit against her. According to recently filed court documents, Lively is asking for a total of $8,035,040.88. The bulk of that amount, roughly $7.5 million, accounts for attorney fees, while over $539,000 covers additional litigation-related costs.
Lively’s legal team argued that the case expanded far beyond a typical civil dispute due to the massive volume of paperwork, numerous court proceedings, and intense public scrutiny surrounding the allegations. They maintain that the costs incurred were both reasonable and necessary given the scope and high stakes of the legal fight. “The fees and costs incurred were reasonable and necessary in light of the scope and significance of the litigation," her attorneys stated in the filing.
The broader legal conflict traces back to late 2024, when Lively accused her director and co-star of sexual harassment and retaliation during the production and promotion of the film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel. Baldoni has consistently denied those allegations and subsequently filed a defamation countersuit against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and others. However, a judge ultimately dismissed his defamation claim, paving the way for Lively's current fee request.
While both parties settled the core dispute earlier this year, they remain at odds over financial responsibilities. Baldoni’s lawyers have pushed back, arguing that Lively’s demand is excessively high. They contend that the requested amount is disproportionate and have vowed to challenge the figure in court. The final determination now rests with the judge, who will evaluate the reasonableness of the fees and issue a ruling on the amount owed.
As the legal drama continues to unfold, industry observers note that such fee disputes are common after high-profile settlements, especially when public perception and media coverage add layers of complexity to the judicial process. The judge’s decision on the fee award is expected in the coming weeks, and it could set a precedent for how similar celebrity defamation cases are resolved in the future.
