It might have had mixed reviews from critics, but when It Ends With Us was released at the end of last year, it was a box office success (it made a total of $351 million worldwide, against a budget of $25 million).

But there’s no doubt the legal battle between the lead actors Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively completely eclipsed the film. Thanks to headlines around the world, it’s a case anyone who’s even vaguely in to pop culture knows about, regardless of whether they’ve watched the movie or read the book by Colleen Hoover.

If you need a refresher, following work on the film, executive producer Lively filed a lawsuit, accusing Baldoni of sexual harassment, as well as allegedly organising a smear campaign against her. Baldoni – who directed the film – denied the allegations, and filed a counter-lawsuit against Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds, accusing the pair of civil extortion, defamation and invasion of privacy. He is also suing The New York Times, who first reported on Lively’s claims, for libel.

The Daily Mail also reported Lively was subpoenaed by Baldoni’s team last week, and has been asked to provide all communications, such as texts and emails, related to Baldoni and the film.

There’s a long time to wait before it’s set to be in court, though – as both cases are set for trial in March 2026.

But now, speaking for the first time about the case, Lively has made her feelings clear. Opening up on Late Night with Seth Meyers, she told viewers how the case has impacted her. ‘What I can say without going too into it is that this year has been full of the highest highs and the lowest lows of my life,’ Lively said. ‘And I see so many women around, afraid to speak, and especially right now, afraid to share their experiences.’

Lively added she feels grateful she’s able to share her story – as so many women who have been through sexual harassment don’t. The National Sexual Violence Resource Centre reports that 81% of women in the US go through sexual harassment in their lifetime. Baldoni denies Lively’s allegations of sexual harassment.

‘I also acknowledge that many people don’t have the opportunity to speak,’ she said. ‘So I do feel fortunate that I’ve been able to. And it’s the women who have had the ability to use their voice that’s kept me strong, and, you know, helped me in my belief in my fight for the world to be safe for women and girls. It’s a pretty simple thing.’

What’s getting Lively through everything, she says, is her children: James, ten, Inez, 8, Betty, 5, and Olin, 2. ‘[My kids] are just like my lifeline,’ she revealed. ‘No matter what day I’m having, I have to be Disneyland for them. And so it’s like, it’s the best. I mean it’s chaos. But it’s the best.’

What Lively didn’t talk about is some of the other drama surrounding the case. Last week, it was reported that Taylor Swift’s boyfriend, Travis Kelce, had unfollowed Lively’s husband Ryan Reynolds. Obviously, the unfollow might be an accident – but Page Six reported that it could be thanks to the legal drama and reports that Swift might be required to give evidence.

‘Travis unfollowed Ryan because he is fed up with the whole drama,’ a source told the Daily Mail. ‘It’s not just about the spectacle of it all. Travis is concerned that he could potentially be questioned too since he was with Taylor as some of this was going down.’ There have been differing reports as to whether Lively and Swift are still friends, but according to the paper, ‘[Taylor and Travis] have cut out Ryan and Blake for the time being.’

It’s certainly a far cry from how close their friendship circle used to be –Lively and Reynolds were photographed outside a party at Swift’s during a break from the Eras tour last summer, and on a podcast episode last year, Kelce called Reynolds ‘literally the greatest’.

There has also been another update in the dispute, as TMZ reported Baldoni has spent so much money on the legal case that the charitable wing of his Wayfarer Studios has closed. The Wayfarer Foundation was set up in 2021, and according to their website, they provided $33 million in grants to organisations who have supported issues like ‘gender equality’, ‘youth empowerment’ and ‘racial justice and unity in diversity’.

Announcing the news on Instagram, Baldoni’s Wayfarer Studios partner Steve Sarowitz didn’t give a reason why the foundation was shutting down, but said the charity will ‘honour all of our current grant commitments’. The post concluded: ‘We understand that this news may come as a surprise, and we will be actively working over the next several weeks to ensure all matters are concluded with care and attention.’