Blake Lively’s highly publicized sexual harassment case against Justin Baldoni has been postponed by two months, according to court filings.
On Tuesday, Judge Lewis J. Liman announced that the trial, originally scheduled for March 9, 2026, will now begin on May 18, citing scheduling conflicts. Liman explained during a post-discovery hearing that he is handling multiple criminal trials, which take precedence despite the significance of the Lively-Baldoni case.
The legal battle began last December when the Gossip Girl star, 38, filed a lawsuit against Baldoni, accusing the director of sexually harassing her on the set of It Ends With Us. Baldoni, 41, best known for Jane the Virgin, has denied all allegations.
The case has been further complicated by counter-lawsuits. In January, Baldoni filed a $400 million lawsuit against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and their publicist, claiming defamation, extortion, and related charges. However, in June, a judge dismissed Baldoni’s defamation claims, as well as his $250 million libel suit against The New York Times.
Judge Liman ruled that Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios, “have not alleged that Lively is responsible for any statements other than the statements in her California Civil Rights Department complaint, which are privileged.” The court noted that while Baldoni claimed Reynolds, the publicist, and The Times made additional accusations, they failed to demonstrate that these parties doubted the truth of the statements, a requirement for defamation under applicable law.
Last month, the judge entered a final judgment after Baldoni and his co-plaintiffs declined to file an amended complaint when given the opportunity.
The next court date for Lively and Baldoni is set for January 22, when oral arguments on summary judgment will take place, further intensifying attention on the ongoing Hollywood legal drama.
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