4 days Ago
Lively Drops Emotional Distress Suits
Now, statement in a move that seems rational but is actually totally fucking insane, Lively is trying to get those two claims—intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligent infliction of emotional distress—thrown the fuck out. The developments are the result of a demand by Baldoni's legal team to review her medical and therapy records to counter her claims of emotional distress.
Baldoni's lawyers claimed Lively's legal team was unwilling to drop the accusations "with prejudice," which would leave open the possibility she could file the same claims in the future. They also cut that Lively has not submitted to their demand for her mental health records.
But Lively's lawyers called the recent filing a "press stunt," and said they are now "streamlining and focusing" her lawsuit. They added that she still claims emotional distress under other active causes of action, including sexual harassment and retaliation.
Current Legal Battle and Countering Claims
The battle began in December 2024 when Lively sued Baldoni for sexual harassment and ruining her reputation. Baldoni later filed a counter-suit against both Lively, and her husband, fellow actor Ryan Reynolds, claiming civil extortion, defamation, and invasion of privacy.
The legal tension revolves around their collaboration on an adaptation of Colleen Hoover's best-selling novel It Ends With Us. Lively played Lily Bloom, a woman who has to face her tangled history with abuse — a role that she apparently overhaul re-wrote, causing some tension with Baldoni.
Pop star Taylor Swift was briefly embroiled in the controversy after being subpoenaed on claims she influenced Baldoni to accept Lively's edits to her script. Swift's attorneys denied any connection and the subpoena was ultimately quashed.
