A federal judge in New York has dismissed several key claims in the legal battle between Blake Lively and her It Ends With Us co-star and director, Justin Baldoni. The lawsuit, which follows the production of the film based on Colleen Hoover’s best-selling novel, saw the court toss out Lively’s allegations of sexual harassment. According to Forbes, the judge determined that Lively served as an independent contractor rather than a traditional employee, making her ineligible to pursue those specific claims under federal law.

Despite the dismissal of the harassment charges, the case is far from over for Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios. The judge ruled that three of Lively's other legal claims, including breach of contract and retaliation, have enough merit to move forward. This ensures that the high-profile dispute will continue to loom over the film's legacy as the parties prepare for a showdown in court.

The remaining legal issues are now scheduled to be heard during a trial set for May 18. This update follows months of reports regarding a rift between the two stars during the post-production and promotion of the film, which was distributed by Sony Pictures. While the harassment claims are officially off the table, the upcoming trial will focus on the specific professional agreements and financial obligations made during the movie’s production.