Judge Dismisses Lively’s Claims Against Texas-Based Consultant

Blake Lively’s ongoing legal battle over the film It Ends With Us faced a setback on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, as a federal judge dismissed her claims against Texas-based social media strategist Jed Wallace due to jurisdictional issues.

U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman ruled that Lively, 37, had not demonstrated that Wallace had sufficient ties to New York to be sued there. According to a spokesperson for Lively, the court’s decision was solely about the proper venue for her claims, and she is evaluating her next steps:

“The Court’s decision today was only about where Jed Wallace can be sued. The Court ruled that Ms. Lively’s claims against him can and should be brought in a different court. Ms. Lively is evaluating her many options for doing so.”

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Wallace Allegedly Hired to Smear Lively Online

In her lawsuit, Lively alleged that Wallace was recruited by Justin Baldoni’s team to “weaponize a digital army” against her, spreading defamatory content on social media platforms including Reddit during the 2024 release of It Ends With Us.

The claims against Wallace had previously been dismissed in July, but the court allowed Lively’s legal team to amend their complaint in an effort to establish New York jurisdiction. However, Judge Liman found that the new allegations still did not satisfy New York’s “long-arm” statute. This law allows plaintiffs to sue out-of-state defendants in certain cases but explicitly excludes defamation claims to protect free speech.

Lively’s spokesperson emphasized that this ruling does not impact her ongoing claims against Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios, and other associated defendants, which remain scheduled for trial in March 2026 in New York.

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Wallace’s Response

Jed Wallace’s attorney, Chip Babcock, welcomed the ruling, praising the court’s thorough opinions, which spanned 79 pages:

“Mr. Wallace and Street Relations greatly appreciate the Court’s two thorough and scholarly opinions dismissing them from the case. Although the Court did not need to decide the merits of Ms. Lively’s claims, they are hopeful that a refiling in a proper court would be futile.”

Wallace is also pursuing his own defamation lawsuit against Lively in federal court in Texas, indicating that the dispute is far from over.

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Context: The Ongoing Legal Battle

This dismissal comes amid a series of legal rulings tied to the high-profile It Ends With Us lawsuit. Lively initially sued Baldoni, 41, and others in December 2024, alleging sexual harassment, retaliation, and a smear campaign on set. Baldoni has denied all allegations.

In response to today’s ruling, Baldoni’s attorney Bryan Freedman said:

“We are grateful for the Court’s order today, making clear that the claims against Mr. Wallace never belonged in this court. Allegations that he participated in any smear campaign are unsupported, and all claims against him have been dismissed. The other defendants look forward to their day in court when they will show there is no merit to Ms. Lively’s claims against them.”

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Trial Scheduled for March 2026

Despite the dismissal of claims against Wallace in New York, the broader case involving Lively, Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios, and other parties continues, with trial set to begin in March 2026.