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“She Really Screwed Herself”: Blake Lively Quietly Drops Major Part Of Lawsuit Against Justin Baldoni
Blake Lively posing at a red carpet event, wearing a strapless dress and green earrings against a TIME 100 backdrop
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“She Really Screwed Herself”: Blake Lively Quietly Drops Major Part Of Lawsuit Against Justin Baldoni

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Blake Lively’s self-styled fire-breathing fury appears to be running out of steam.

The latest development in the ongoing legal battle between the actress and her It Ends With Us co-star and director, Justin Baldoni, saw the 37-year-old actress drop two of her most explosive claims—those relating to intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress.

Highlights
  • Blake Lively dropped two key claims against Justin Baldoni.
  • Lively’s attorneys say dropping claims is routine trial preparation, while critics see it as a humiliating retreat.
  • Blake compared herself to Game of Thrones’ Daenerys Targaryen, being mocked for the reference.
  • Lively declined to share medical records backing her emotional distress claims, leading to their dismissal.

For Lively’s attorneys, the decision is nothing more than routine. “We are doing what trial lawyers do: preparing our case for trial by streamlining and focusing it,” they said.

But for critics, the move is something entirely different: a humiliating climbdown for a woman who once likened herself to Daenerys Targaryen—Game of Thrones’ infamous Mother of Dragons.

RELATED:

    Blake Lively is mocked online after dropping two of her claims against It Ends With Us co-star Justin Baldoni

    Blake Lively wearing a pink off-shoulder gown and green jewelry at a Time 100 event, posing confidently against a red backdrop.

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    Image credits: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

    “Her dragons turned out to be lizards,” one user wrote shortly after the news broke.

    Lively’s claim of possessing “dragons” brought her no small amount of mockery months ago, when leaked texts revealed that she had compared herself to Daenerys Targaryen in a “cringeworthy” private message to Baldoni.

    Man in dark suit speaking at a podium with microphone, related to Blake Lively lawsuit against Justin Baldoni news.

    Image credits: Bryan Bedder/Getty Images

    “And like her, I happen to have a few dragons. For better or worse, but usually for better. Because my dragons also protect those I fight for,” she wrote. “So really we all benefit from those gorgeous monsters of mine. You will too, I can promise you.”

    Man in gray hoodie smiling while holding newborn baby wrapped in a striped blanket indoors.

    Image credits: Columbia Pictures

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    The reference confused fans familiar with the show. Daenerys—also known as Khalessi—may have begun Game of Thrones as a symbol of liberation, but she ended the series with incinerating a city full of innocents in the series’ controversial ending.

    “This isn’t as flattering as she thinks it is,” a netizen said at the time. “Did she miss the part where Khaleesi becomes a psychopathic war criminal?”

    “She’s drunk off her own power like the mad Khaleesi. Hopefully she only burns up her own career,” another replied.

    Blake Lively looking thoughtful in a dimly lit setting amid lawsuit news involving Justin Baldoni.

    Image credits: Columbia Pictures

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    Connecting the dots, fans came to believe Lively’s “dragons” were a reference to her friendships with influential stars such as Taylor Swift and Hugh Jackman. In the months following, rumors circulated that Swift was offended by the implications, and tried to distance herself from the situation.

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    Lively allegedly refused to provide evidence to back up her claims of being “emotionally damaged” by Baldoni

    Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni in an intimate scene at night, highlighting tension amid lawsuit developments.

    Image credits: Columbia Pictures

    The dropped claims had previously been a central part of Lively’s December lawsuit, which alleged that Baldoni orchestrated a retaliatory smear campaign and subjected her to inappropriate behavior on set.

    Baldoni was accused of s*xual harassment, fat-shaming, and taking advantage of her by making last-minute script changes intended to add or increase intimate scenes between them.

    In the lawsuit, Lively said the emotional impact of Baldoni’s alleged behavior was “extreme,” affecting not only her, but her “family, including her husband and four children.”

    Comment from Bridget VeVerka, labeled top fan, stating you can't win and should drop it, reflecting public reaction to Blake Lively lawsuit.

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    Screenshot of a Facebook comment by Mary Williams advising caution before making any legal claim.

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    However, when Baldoni’s legal team recently requested access to medical and therapy records to assess the emotional distress allegations, Lively opted to withdraw the claims instead. 

    In response, Baldoni’s attorney, Kevin Fritz, wrote a letter to Judge Lewis J. Liman, arguing that Lively was “refusing to disclose the information and documents needed to disprove that she suffered any emotional distress.”

    Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni posing closely outdoors with flowers in the background related to lawsuit news.

    Image credits: vancityreynolds

    The letter added that, by dismissing the claims “without prejudice,” the actress appears to be reserving the right to refile them later, potentially after the discovery window closes. “It’s a legal bait and switch,” Fritz argued.

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    Baldoni’s countersuit alleges that Lively and Reynolds used their power and influence to “steal the film” from him

    Comment on social media mocking Blake Lively as she drops a major part of her lawsuit against Justin Baldoni.

    User comment from Dina Garcia expressing strong opinion on Blake Lively dropping major part of lawsuit against Justin Baldoni.

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    Lively’s draconic threat was made public as part of Baldoni’s 179-page countersuit, which accused Blake and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, of civil extortion, defamation, and hijacking the film’s production and promotional tour.

    Baldoni claims the conflict began after he casually inquired about Lively’s weight through her trainer, due to concerns over lifting her in a scene and protecting his—at the time—injured back.

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    Man with dark curly hair and beard wearing beige patterned short sleeve shirt speaking in a studio setting involving Blake Lively lawsuit

    Image credits: Variety

    What followed was a meeting at the couple’s penthouse, where Reynolds publicly berated Baldoni in front of key production staff.

    The conflict escalated from there, with Blake attempting to take control of the production and destroy Baldoni’s reputation with “grossly edited, unsubstantiated, new and doctored information.”

    Blake Lively wearing a white dress during a TV interview, discussing lawsuit news related to Justin Baldoni.

    Image credits: Late Night with Seth Meyers

    “At the bottom, this is not a case about celebrities sniping at each other in the press,” the countersuit reads.

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    “This is a case about two of the most powerful stars in the world deploying their enormous power to steal an entire film right out of the hands of its director and production studio.”

    On January 27, a judge set the date for Lively and Baldoni’s lawsuits for March 9, 2026.

    The actors were also ordered to attend a pretrial conference on February 3, 2026, in which they are expected to address “pretrial publicity and attorney conduct.”

    “She’s losing,” Some netizens believe Lively’s legal team is throwing in the towel

    Comment on social media post reading I guess her dragons turned out to be lizards, related to Blake Lively lawsuit against Justin Baldoni.

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    Facebook comment by Chelsie Baker questioning emotional distress claim, referencing Blake Lively lawsuit against Justin Baldoni.

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    Comment on social media criticizing Blake Lively as she drops a major part of her lawsuit against Justin Baldoni.

    Comment calling Blake Lively a spoiled girl having a temper tantrum amid lawsuit against Justin Baldoni.

    Comment on Blake Lively brutally mocked as she drops major part of lawsuit against Justin Baldoni, discussing false claims and tantrums.

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    Screenshot of a social media comment mocking Blake Lively as she drops a major part of her lawsuit against Justin Baldoni.

    Social media comment mocking Blake Lively as she drops major part of lawsuit against Justin Baldoni.

    User comment about Blake Lively being mocked after dropping major part of lawsuit against Justin Baldoni in social media post.

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    Comment by Mailei McCormick reading When is she going to literally take the loss, discussing Blake Lively lawsuit update.

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    Comment by Nicole Marcellus Green reacting to Blake Lively dropping major part of lawsuit against Justin Baldoni.

    Comment on social media mocking Blake Lively as she drops a major part of her lawsuit involving Justin Baldoni.

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    Comment on social media mocking Blake Lively as she drops a major part of her lawsuit against Justin Baldoni.

    Comment by Cedric M. Grant stating false accusing should be a felony for damaging real victims, discussing Blake Lively lawsuit.

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    Comment by Tiffany Guerrero reading "She’s definitely grasping for straws" in a social media post about Blake Lively lawsuit news.

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    Comment from Eric Hensler expressing emotional distress about Blake Lively lawsuit news involving Justin Baldoni.

    Screenshot of a social media comment discussing the downfall of Blake Lively amid lawsuit developments with Justin Baldoni.

    Comment on Blake Lively brutally mocked as she drops major part of lawsuit against Justin Baldoni questioning her emotional distress claim.

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    Screenshot of a social media comment mocking Blake Lively amid her lawsuit developments with Justin Baldoni.

    Comment on social media mocking Blake Lively amid lawsuit developments involving Justin Baldoni.

    Comment discussing emotional and financial distress claims dropped by Blake Lively in lawsuit involving Justin Baldoni.

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    Abel Musa Miño

    Abel Musa Miño

    Writer, Entertainment News Writer

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    Born in Santiago, Chile, with a background in communication and international relations, I bring a global perspective to entertainment reporting at Bored Panda. I cover celebrity news, Hollywood events, true crime, and viral stories that resonate across cultures. My reporting has been featured on Google News, connecting international audiences to the latest in entertainment. For me, journalism is about bridging local stories with global conversations, arming readers with the knowledge necessary to make up their own minds. Research is at the core of my work. I believe that well-sourced, factual storytelling is essential to building trust and driving meaningful engagement.

    Read less »
    Abel Musa Miño

    Abel Musa Miño

    Writer, Entertainment News Writer

    Born in Santiago, Chile, with a background in communication and international relations, I bring a global perspective to entertainment reporting at Bored Panda. I cover celebrity news, Hollywood events, true crime, and viral stories that resonate across cultures. My reporting has been featured on Google News, connecting international audiences to the latest in entertainment. For me, journalism is about bridging local stories with global conversations, arming readers with the knowledge necessary to make up their own minds. Research is at the core of my work. I believe that well-sourced, factual storytelling is essential to building trust and driving meaningful engagement.

    What do you think ?
    Nova Rook
    Community Member
    6 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Two sentences explaining something and then just mean tweets and garbage text.

    Amy S
    Community Member
    6 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I can understand why someone wouldn't want their therapy and medical records disclosed to the public, even if they're telling the truth.

    KrazyChiMama
    Community Member
    6 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Asking for her medical records to “prove mental and emotional distress” in a civil case is grossly inappropriate in my opinion. Confirming she actually received treatment is another thing. Why not disclose that you are in fact seeking therapy? Unless you’re lying thru your pearly white veneers that is?

    Load More Comments
    Nova Rook
    Community Member
    6 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Two sentences explaining something and then just mean tweets and garbage text.

    Amy S
    Community Member
    6 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I can understand why someone wouldn't want their therapy and medical records disclosed to the public, even if they're telling the truth.

    KrazyChiMama
    Community Member
    6 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Asking for her medical records to “prove mental and emotional distress” in a civil case is grossly inappropriate in my opinion. Confirming she actually received treatment is another thing. Why not disclose that you are in fact seeking therapy? Unless you’re lying thru your pearly white veneers that is?

    Load More Comments
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