Blake Lively claims 'mean girl' smear campaign led to damages worth USD 290 million ahead of trial - Reports
ETimes | April 22, 2026 8:39 PM CST
Blake Lively has claimed that an alleged “mean girl” smear campaign tied to her legal fight with Justin Baldoni and Wayfarer Productions caused major financial damage to her career and businesses. In newly cited court filings dated April 17, the actress argued that the alleged campaign hurt her reputation, cut into future earnings, and damaged her brands. The latest filing sharply raises the amount she is seeking, putting the claimed damages at more than USD 290 million as the case moves closer to trial.
Blake Lively's legal battle and USD 300 million damages claimPage Six reported that Lively said she suffered a direct financial hit “in an amount of approximately USD 36.5 to USD 40.5 million” because of Baldoni’s alleged use of the retaliatory phrases “tone deaf,” “bully,” and “mean girl.” The report also said Lively relied on expert Dr. Ashlee Humphreys, a professor of marketing communications at Northwestern University, who concluded that statements made by Baldoni’s attorney Bryan Freedman caused further harm “in an amount calculated at USD 24,375,267.” Fox News separately reported that Lively’s estimated income-related damages range from USD 34.3 million to USD 87.8 million.
According to the filings, Humphreys measured the online reach of the statements through impressions and then assigned “particular dollar damages.” Lively’s team also argued that lost opportunities between August 2024 and August 2029 contributed to the claimed losses. Those missed opportunities allegedly included studio films, independent projects, and a limited TV series.
Justin Baldoni's response and ‘It Ends With Us’ court caseLively also claimed that her companies, Betty Booze and Blake Brown, lost between USD 39.6 million and USD 143.5 million in profits because of the legal fight. In addition, she is seeking between USD 250,000 and USD 400,000 for the “pain and suffering, physical pain, and humiliation” she says she experienced.
Baldoni’s lawyers pushed back in their own April 17 filing. They argued that describing Lively online as a “‘mean girl,’ ‘bully,’ difficult to work with or ‘tone deaf’” “did not cause further harm to her existing reputation” because accusations about her character “were widely circulated before Lively” started working with Baldoni and Wayfarer.
The dispute grew out of the fallout surrounding ‘It Ends With Us’. A judge has already dismissed 10 of Lively’s 13 claims. The case is still moving ahead on three claims, including breach of contract, retaliation, and aiding and abetting in retaliation, with trial set for May 18.
Disclaimer: The information in this report is based on a legal hearing as reported by a third-party source. The details provided represent allegations made by the parties involved and are not proven facts. The case is ongoing, and a final verdict has not been reached. The publication does not claim that the allegations are true.
Blake Lively's legal battle and USD 300 million damages claimPage Six reported that Lively said she suffered a direct financial hit “in an amount of approximately USD 36.5 to USD 40.5 million” because of Baldoni’s alleged use of the retaliatory phrases “tone deaf,” “bully,” and “mean girl.” The report also said Lively relied on expert Dr. Ashlee Humphreys, a professor of marketing communications at Northwestern University, who concluded that statements made by Baldoni’s attorney Bryan Freedman caused further harm “in an amount calculated at USD 24,375,267.” Fox News separately reported that Lively’s estimated income-related damages range from USD 34.3 million to USD 87.8 million.
According to the filings, Humphreys measured the online reach of the statements through impressions and then assigned “particular dollar damages.” Lively’s team also argued that lost opportunities between August 2024 and August 2029 contributed to the claimed losses. Those missed opportunities allegedly included studio films, independent projects, and a limited TV series.
Justin Baldoni's response and ‘It Ends With Us’ court caseLively also claimed that her companies, Betty Booze and Blake Brown, lost between USD 39.6 million and USD 143.5 million in profits because of the legal fight. In addition, she is seeking between USD 250,000 and USD 400,000 for the “pain and suffering, physical pain, and humiliation” she says she experienced.
Baldoni’s lawyers pushed back in their own April 17 filing. They argued that describing Lively online as a “‘mean girl,’ ‘bully,’ difficult to work with or ‘tone deaf’” “did not cause further harm to her existing reputation” because accusations about her character “were widely circulated before Lively” started working with Baldoni and Wayfarer.
The dispute grew out of the fallout surrounding ‘It Ends With Us’. A judge has already dismissed 10 of Lively’s 13 claims. The case is still moving ahead on three claims, including breach of contract, retaliation, and aiding and abetting in retaliation, with trial set for May 18.
Disclaimer: The information in this report is based on a legal hearing as reported by a third-party source. The details provided represent allegations made by the parties involved and are not proven facts. The case is ongoing, and a final verdict has not been reached. The publication does not claim that the allegations are true.
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