Blake Lively Claims $160M in Damages Over Defamation Case

Blake Lively, the acclaimed actor and entrepreneur, is seeking more than US$160 million in damages following an alleged smear campaign that she claims severely damaged her career and business interests during the release of the film It Ends With Us. Newly unsealed court documents reveal the scope of Lively’s claimed losses and the ongoing legal battle surrounding the controversy.

Huge Financial Losses Cited in Lawsuit

In documents originally filed in July 2025 but unsealed recently, Lively’s legal team details staggering financial damages. According to the filings, the 38-year-old actress claims she has lost approximately $56.2 million in past and projected future earnings. These losses span her acting career, speaking engagements, and endorsement deals.

Additionally, Lively alleges that her entrepreneurial ventures have suffered immensely. The lawsuit states that her haircare brand, Blake Brown, along with her beverage companies Betty Buzz and Betty Booze, collectively lost $71 million in business profits. The filings also cite $34 million in damages for reputational harm caused by what her team describes as defamatory statements targeting her personally and professionally.

Legal Team Raises Damage Estimate

When Lively first filed the lawsuit on December 31, 2024, her legal team stated that damages exceeded $75,000—a requirement to initiate the case. However, in more recent disclosures submitted to the defense, the damages estimate has skyrocketed to a preliminary figure of at least $161 million. Her lawyers are also pursuing punitive damages that could amount to three times that amount.

Lively’s legal filings emphasize that the damage figure is subject to proof through expert testimony during the trial process, which is currently scheduled for March 2026.

This lawsuit unfolds against the backdrop of a broader legal conflict involving It Ends With Us co-star Justin Baldoni. Baldoni filed a $400 million defamation and extortion countersuit against Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds, accusing them of launching a smear campaign. However, a recent final judgment by U.S. District Court Judge Lewis Liman dismissed Baldoni’s claims after Baldoni missed a court deadline to file an amended complaint.

Judge Liman noted that although Baldoni and his production company alleged defamatory statements were made, they failed to show that those statements were made with serious doubt about their truthfulness—a necessary element to prove defamation under the law. The court also dismissed Baldoni’s extortion claims and his lawsuit against media outlets that had reported on Lively’s sexual harassment allegations.

Court Rulings and Ongoing Proceedings

The dismissal of Baldoni’s countersuit came after the court allowed him to amend his complaint to address specific claims related to tortious interference with contract and breach of implied covenant. However, the court rejected claims that Lively had stolen creative control of the film, ruling that those allegations did not meet the legal definition of extortion.

Judge Liman’s final order clarified that only statements made by Lively in her formal complaint are protected by privilege, while additional accusations against Baldoni by Reynolds and others are not proven to be defamatory.

Baldoni’s legal team may still appeal the dismissal, pending the court’s decision on Lively’s motion for legal fees.

Lively’s Allegations of Harassment and Retaliation

Lively initially filed her lawsuit alleging sexual harassment and retaliation linked to her experience on the It Ends With Us set. She accuses Baldoni and others connected to the film of orchestrating a coordinated campaign to tarnish her reputation after she came forward with her allegations.

Her lawsuit includes claims of significant financial and reputational harm resulting from this campaign, which she asserts directly impacted her acting career and her businesses.

With the trial slated for March 2026, all eyes are on the unfolding legal drama that involves high-profile names and significant sums of money. Both parties continue to prepare for what is expected to be a complex and closely watched case in the entertainment and legal communities.