Amid the ongoing lawsuit between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, the 38-year-old actress has found herself at the center of fresh backlash after a federal judge dismissed the majority of her serious claims against Baldoni.
Social media users accused Blake of displaying “Karen” behavior, with many perceiving her legal actions as a misuse of her celebrity influence to silence her less-influential co-star.
Highlights
- After losing 10 of her 13 claims against Justin Baldoni, including harassment, public opinion surrounding Blake Lively’s legal battle has shifted rapidly.
- Critics have harshly labeled the actress a “Karen,” while others have come to her defense, questioning the legal technicalities involved in the case.
- While several claims were dismissed, the remaining allegations are now set to move forward as the case heads toward trial in May.
On April 2, in a major twist in the case, 10 of Lively’s 13 claims, including harassment allegations, were dismissed.
“Imagine ruining yours and your husband's career, losing all your famous friends, and now this. Karma is a b**ch as her ex BFF Taylor says,” one netizen reacted.
Blake Lively was blasted online, with many dubbing her a “Karen” after 10 of her 13 claims, including several serious ones, were dismissed
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In a bombshell twist in the controversial lawsuit between the It Ends With Us co-stars, Judge Lewis Liman dismissed several of Blake Lively’s claims, including harassment, defamation, and conspiracy.
The judge allowed only three claims to proceed to trial: breach of contract, retaliation, and aiding and abetting retaliation.
The decision was based on several legal technicalities. Judge Liman ruled that Lively could not pursue a federal harassment claim because she was working as an independent contractor, not an employee.
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Additionally, claims under California law were dismissed because the alleged incidents occurred in New Jersey, where the majority of filming took place, meaning there was no “substantial connection” to California.
Following the dismissal, the internet appeared sharply divided in its reaction to the Gossip Girl alum.
Many users harshly labeled Lively a “Karen,” alleging she used her significant Hollywood influence to damage Justin Baldoni’s reputation in the industry.
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One critic wrote, “Yes...ohhh this karen is finally being dismissed. Justin should celebrate this win. This ugly woman did this man dirty…”
Another user bluntly added, “Knew it would be, she had NOTHING and he had massive proof she lied. And it wasn't JUST her, let's not forget Ryan Reynolds helped. they're both now unhirable. All for nothing. Liars. No one will want to work with them again after this.”
Lively’s claims of s**ual harassment on set were thrown out by Judge Lewis Liman during court proceedings yesterday
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“You owe him more, you owe him accountability. For every headline that distorted the truth, for every moment his name and character were misrepresented, there should be a public apology just as loud. Do better!” remarked a third.
Another user commented, “This dismissal feels like the court quietly called the whole thing what it was: a high-stakes Hollywood power play that never had the evidence to stick…”
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The same user doubled down, writing, “The real fallout is already baked in though, both Lively and Baldoni have taken hits to their reputations that no ruling can fully erase. These cases always leave everyone bloodied…”
Others expressed, “She tried to ruin an innocent man!!! So glad Justin… is out! She can take the rest to trial and see what comes of it. Team Justin ALL THE WAY!!”
“Good thing her husband is a billionaire, because no one is ever hiring her again lol.”
“Ohhhhh I hope he sueeessss her Amber Heard style take every penny take Deadpool’s money too,” wrote one supporter of Justin Baldoni
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However, some users pointed to the legal technicalities involved. As one noted, “The way people celebrate ‘case dismissed’ without understanding why, is exactly how misinformation spreads. Legal dismissal ≠ innocence. Especially when parts are still moving forward.”
Another agreed, saying, “Some claims were dismissed on legal technicalities, not because they were proven false — and others are still going to trial…”
“Are they punishing her for speaking up and what can she do about it?” questioned one supporter of Blake, while others added, “Completely wrong s**ual harassment should be treated as a crime.”
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“Yall need to read before talking s**t! The judge dismissed the case cuz the claims happened in New Jersey and not in California. Also she’s an independent contractor so she can’t do anything through federal law. This doesn’t mean he’s innocent lol.”
The lawsuit between the two stars has been ongoing since December 2024, when Lively sued Baldoni for alleged s**ual harassment and retaliation on the set of It Ends With Us, along with claims that he orchestrated a smear campaign against her.
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Justin fired back at the allegations with a $400 million countersuit against Lively for defamation, claiming The Shallows star allegedly threatened to “ruin” his reputation in the industry and attempted to “hijack” his creative vision for the film during the filming process.
The Jane the Virgin alum’s countersuit was dismissed by a judge in June last year.
Despite the majority of Lively’s claims being dismissed, a jury trial is currently scheduled for May 18 in Manhattan federal court.
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The trial is expected to center on the alleged retaliatory PR campaign that Lively claims was designed to damage her reputation after she voiced concerns and “stood up for safety on set.”
In a statement shared with People, addressing the legal setback, one of Lively’s attorneys Sigrid McCawley said, “This case has always been and will remain focused on the devasting [sic] retaliation and the extraordinary steps the defendants took to destroy Blake Lively’s reputation because she stood up for safety on the set and that is the case that is going to trial.”
The jury trial in the controversial case is scheduled to begin on May 18 and will focus on Blake’s allegations of a smear campaign against her
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Sigrid added, “For Blake Lively, the greatest measure of justice is that the people and the playbook behind these coordinated digital attacks have been exposed and are already being held accountable by other women they’ve targeted.”
“She looks forward to testifying at trial and continuing to shine a light on this vicious form of online retaliation so that it becomes easier to detect and fight.”
The attorney further emphasized that the dismissal of the harassment claims was “not because the defendants did nothing wrong,” but due to legal technicalities cited by the court.
Both stars’ partners, Emily Baldoni and Ryan Reynolds, have remained publicly supportive throughout the legal battle.
Emily even appeared in court alongside Baldoni, during a six-hour mediation session in February, which ultimately failed.
“She thought she could bully her way to a win… I’m so glad the judge saw reason,” wrote one netizen
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