Lawyers at War: Who Really Won the Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni Settlement?

When both sides of a legal battle claim total victory, somebody’s telling a story—and it probably isn’t the whole truth.

On Thursday, May 7, Justin Baldoni’s attorney Bryan Freedman released a statement declaring the settlement with Blake Lively a“total victory”for the Wayfarer parties. His argument was straightforward: the court had already dismissed 10 of Lively’s 13 claims, including all sexual harassment and defamation allegations. She voluntarily dismissed the remaining three. From Freedman’s perspective, they settled because they knew they were going to lose in court.

But Blake Lively’s attorneys Michael Gottlieb and Esra Hudson offered a completely different narrative. They called it a“resounding victory”for their client, arguing that by agreeing to settle and waiving their right to appeal, Baldoni and the individual defendants were essentially admitting liability for retaliatory conduct. The settlement language itself—in which both parties acknowledged that Lively’s“concerns deserved to be heard”—functioned, in their view, as a public repudiation of the“fabricated”narrative.

Here’s what we actually know: The two actors, who clashed on the set of It Ends With Us, were scheduled to begin trial on May 18 after nearly two years of litigation. Judge Lewis J. Liman had recommended settlement talks. News of the deal broke on Monday, May 4. Lively, 38, had accused Baldoni, 42, of sexual harassment, hostile work environment, and orchestrating a smear campaign. Baldoni denied everything and countersued; his countersuit was dismissed in June 2025.

The settlement itself remains confidential, which means the public won’t know whether money changed hands, how much, or on what terms. What we’re left with is dueling declarations of victory, each side interpreting the same outcome as vindication. It’s a reminder that settlements often paper over fundamental disagreements. The joint statement about raising awareness for domestic violence survivors and creating respectful workplaces reads as carefully negotiated language designed to let both parties claim they achieved their core objectives—even if those objectives were never the same to begin with.

One thing’s certain: the only clear winners here are the lawyers.