Blake Lively Reportedly Advised By Close Circle To Settle Lawsuit

Blake Lively has reportedly lost the support of her close circle amid her ongoing lawsuit with her “It Ends With Us” co-star, Justin Baldoni.

The actress and director have been embroiled in a legal battle since the project, with the case set to go to trial in May.

However, those close to Blake Lively are said to believe she may not win and are privately urging her to settle with Justin Baldoni, though she remains determined to see the case through to the end.

The Actress’s Close Circle Is ‘Begging’ Her To Settle

With only weeks to go before Blake Lively’s lawsuit against Justin Baldoni heads to trial, her close circle is reportedly reconsidering whether she should proceed with the case.

The actress sued her “It Ends With Us” co-star for sexual harassment and other claims stemming from their time on set and beyond, and has continued to stand firm amid the ongoing legal back-and-forth with Baldoni’s attorneys since filing the suit.

Now, sources who spoke with Rob Shuter’s “Naughty But Nice” Substack say Lively’s friends and loved ones aren’t confident she will emerge victorious and have advised her to settle in order to avoid potential embarrassment if she loses.

“People around Blake are begging her to settle,” an insider told the journalist. “They think enough damage has already been done.”

“This is not the win she thinks it is,” the source added about the actress. “The case is weaker now, not stronger.”

Blake Lively Wants To See The Case Through Despite Dismissal Of Most Claims

According to the source, concerns among Lively’s friends about her losing the case intensified after a judge dismissed several of the claims she brought against Baldoni in 2024.

Judge Lewis Liman allowed only three of the 13 legal claims filed by Lively to proceed, dismissing others, including her sexual harassment and defamation allegations, in his 152-page ruling on April 2.

Despite this significant setback just weeks before the trial, Lively is said to be determined to see her day in court and is not backing down.

“She’s framing this as something bigger,” the insider continued about the actress who previously failed to settle with Baldoni during a court-mandated meeting that lasted several hours.

 “A fight about ‘digital violence’ and speaking out,” they further hinted at Lively’s reason for wanting to see the case through.

Blake Lively’s Husband Is No Longer Confident In The Case, Source Claims

Some of Lively’s close friends reportedly feel that the longer the case drags on, the more the actress is likely to suffer reputational and professional damage.

They also believe that the impact isn’t limited to Lively alone; her husband, Ryan Reynolds, who has been her biggest supporter since she took legal action against Baldoni, could also face similar losses.

“Ryan has been by her side, but even he’s starting to wobble,” added the insider. “This is affecting everything — their image, their careers, their relationships,” the source explains. “It’s not contained anymore.”

For now, Lively still has the opportunity to step back, but if she forges ahead, many believe she could face an even greater risk of loss in the coming weeks.

“She can keep going, but she may lose a lot more before this is over,” the source concluded.

Blake Lively Looks Forward To ‘Testifying’

Baldoni also faced a setback with Liman’s ruling, as his push for a summary judgment was only partly granted.

Despite this, he also remains committed to seeing the case through like Lively, as noted in statements following the April ruling, per People Magazine.

Lively’s lawyer, Sigrid McCawley, stated that the “Another Simple Favor” star is looking forward to “testifying at trial and continuing to shine a light on this vicious form of online retaliation so that it becomes easier to detect and fight.”

Justin Baldoni Pleased As He Is Now Left With A ‘Significantly Narrowed Case’

Baldoni, on his own part, noted he was pleased with the ruling and cited how the case was now “significantly narrowed.”

“These were very serious allegations, and we are grateful to the Court for its careful review of the facts, law, and voluminous evidence that was provided,” read a statement from his lawyers, Alexandra Shapiro and Jonathan Bach of Shapiro Arato Bach.

“What’s left is a significantly narrowed case, and we look forward to presenting our defense to the remaining claims in court,” they added.