The popularity of celebrities does not grant them immunity from legal troubles. Thus, in addition to walking red carpets and attending A-list events, some have also found themselves in courtrooms. Amid the ongoing Blake Lively vs Justin Baldoni case making fresh headlines every day, let us take a look at some of the most significant and biggest celebrity lawsuits that have shaken the entertainment industry over the years.
2024 itself witnessed some bombshell moments, including the arrest of Sean “Diddy” Combs. Those who have been closely following celebrity news will also be aware of the ongoing legal tensions between It Ends With Us stars Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni. A few years ago, another case that dominated the headlines was the Johnny Depp-Amber Heard trial. The infamous defamation case, which was televised, became a part of internet discourse with each new hearing. Many have questioned whether a similar treatment will be given to Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni’s case, which has received a trial date for March 2026.
Famous celebrity trials have spawned memes, endless newspaper columns, and even documentaries. The heightened level of drama infused by the participation of a celebrity in the legal process and the jaw-dropping expenses involved are among the few elements that make lawsuits involving celebrities the most talked about events. Here’s a look at some of the biggest celebrity lawsuits that have, in some cases, drawn millions in settlements.
Biggest celebrity lawsuits of all time
Justin Baldoni vs Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds
Seeking damages: USD 400 million
Justin Baldoni has sued Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds for $400 million, alleging the Hollywood power couple sought to “destroy” him https://t.co/rs9onc1M6y
— CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) January 16, 2025
The on-set tiffs and troubles of Blake Lively and her It Ends With Us director and co-star Justin Baldoni have devolved into an ugly “he said-she said” scandal. It all started after Lively accused Baldoni of sexual harassment and filed a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department against him and his Wayfarer Studios. Nearly ten days after the New York Times extensively covered the details of her lawsuit in an extensive article that accused him of orchestrating a smear campaign against his co-star, Baldoni sued the publication for libel. The legal drama continued further with Lively suing Baldoni in the Southern District of New York. While several celebrities including other cast members from the film rallied behind Lively, the legal troubles have not ended for the star.
Even though Lively was not named in Baldoni’s suit against NYT, which seeks USD 250 million in damages and accuses the publication of defaming Baldoni and his publicists, his second lawsuit filed on January 16 2025 names not only Lively but also her husband Ryan Reynolds. The suit, also filed in the Southern District of New York, seeks USD 400 million in damages accusing Lively and Reynolds of trying to steal authority on the film’s production from Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios. It also accuses her of leveraging “her power as a wealthy celebrity to take creative control of the film.” While a court date for the trial has been set for March 2026, the lawsuit continues to make headlines thanks to leaked messages and videos from the sets of the film that both stars seem to be using to push their narrative.
The Amber Heard and Johnny Depp trial
Damages awarded to Johnny Depp: USD 15 million
Compensatory damages awarded to Heard’s countersuit: USD 2 million
A celebrity trial that will forever hold a place in pop culture history is the Amber Heard vs Johnny Depp trial. Arguably the most-followed case during its run, the lawsuit serves as a cautionary tale in showcasing the dangerous role social media plays in shaping public perception. As the tawdry details of Depp and Heard’s volatile relationship and marriage made the headlines with each hearing held in the US state of Virginia, the live-streamed spectacle also spawned viral memes.
Depp sued his ex-wife after she identified herself as “a public victim representing domestic abuse” in a 2018 Washington Post op-ed, which did not mention Depp by name. Following a tedious trial that took place from April to June 2022, the jury sided with Depp and ordered Heard to pay USD 15 million in damages. Throughout the public trial, Heard faced extensive online harassment and following her loss also maintained that she lived in fear of future lawsuits from her ex-husband. The actress also won part of a countersuit she filed against Depp, and was awarded USD 2 million in damages.
Scarlett Johansson vs Disney
Payout sought by Scarlett Johansson: USD 50 million
In a move that sent shockwaves in the entertainment industry, Scarlett Johansson took a stand against one of the biggest Hollywood studios with her lawsuit against Disney. The Black Widow star sued the studio, accusing them of sabotaging the theatrical release of her Marvel film to prop up their streaming platform — Disney Plus. Johansson had sought a USD 50 million payout from the studio. Black Widow was originally set to debut on May 1, 2020, but was postponed several times owing to the pandemic. Eventually, in March 2021, Disney confirmed its release simultaneously in theatres and via Premier Access on Disney Plus on July 9, allowing subscribers to rent the film for USD 30.
In her lawsuit against Disney, Johansson argued that the streaming release had cannibalised the theatrical gross of the film, and violated her contract. A settlement was reached between Johansson and the studio in 2021 and while the terms remained undisclosed, as per Variety, Johansson’s payout was reportedly over USD 40 million.
Prince Harry vs News Group Newspapers (NGN)
Settlement received: GBP 10 million (over USD 12 million)
NEW: Here is the FULL statement from Rupert Murdoch’s NGN to Prince Harry and Lord Tom Watson
“Full and unequivocal” pic.twitter.com/bBUQcssu2t
— Chris Ship (@chrisshipitv) January 22, 2025
Besides his headline-grabbing royal exit, Prince Harry also surprised everyone with his involvement in one of the biggest celebrity lawsuits in recent times. The Duke of Sussex accused News Group Newspapers of illegal information gathering between 1996 and 2011, a period during which The Sun and the now-defunct News of the World allegedly targeted him. The tabloid press in the UK infamously took potshots at Prince Harry as well as his wife Meghan Markle with reports alleging a rift in the British Royal family. However, before the legal battle against News Group Newspapers could commence in court, the two sides suddenly settled with Prince Harry also earning an apology from The Sun — including NGN’s acceptance of unlawful information gathering by private investigators working for the newspaper. According to People, Prince Harry received more than GBP 10 million (over USD 12 million) in damages from the settlement.
Previously, Prince Harry also went up against Mirror Group Newspapers, accusing them of phone hacking. The four-year battle between the royal family member and the publisher eventually concluded last year. The court ruled that there was evidence of “widespread and habitual” use of phone hacking at the group and awarded Prince Harry GBP 140,600 (USD 179,600) in damages after winning 15 claims against MGN.
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie divorce
After an 8-year legal battle, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt finally reached a divorce settlement in 2025. In what can be regarded as one of the longest divorces in Hollywood history, the former couple settled, and as per the filing via Associated Press, the duo gave up the right to any future spousal financial support. Jolie filed for divorce in 2016, following a traumatic ride on a private jet from Europe, during which she claimed Pitt physically abused her and their children. While the FBI and child services officials investigated Pitt’s actions on the flight, it was later revealed by the FBI that no further investigation would be carried out. In 2019, Jolie and Pitt were declared divorced and single, but the splitting of assets and the custody of their children remained on hold. According to The Daily Mail, Jolie received a USD 80 million settlement following the end of the acrimonious divorce battle.
Cases against Diddy
Lawyer cites 300 potential cases against Diddy https://t.co/khHw1nbj50
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) December 11, 2024
Disgraced music producer and rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs is facing multiple lawsuits. According to BBC, the potential number of civil legal cases against the musician “is probably in the 300 range”, with the rapper on the reciving end of suits by men and women alleging sex trafficking and racketeering. Diddy is currently being held in Manhattan’s Metropolitan Detention Center, awaiting trial. Among the multiple charges he is facing, the victims who have come forward include a woman who claims Mr Combs sexually assaulted her in a hotel room in 2004 when she was a 19-year-old college student. In addition to that, a young musician has also alleged that the musician drugged him and forced him to perform oral sex when he was just 10 years old.
Lawyers for Diddy have denied the allegations, and informed BBC in a statement that he “has never sexually assaulted anyone – adult or minor, man or woman.” Another case filed by another victim in New York in October claims Diddy assaulted her when she was 13 years old at the MTV Video Music Awards after-party. In December, the plaintiff updated the same October lawsuit to identify the involvement of another celebrity in the alleged crime and accused Diddy’s long-time friend Jay-Z of assault.
Harvey Weinstein’s MeToo trial
Harvey Weinstein, the disgraced movie producer whose sexual misconduct helped fuel the #MeToo movement in Hollywood was convicted in 2020 in New York for the third-degree rape of one woman and a first-degree criminal sex act against another woman. Consequently, he was sentenced to 23 years in prison. In addition to this, Weinstein was found guilty of one count of rape and two counts of sexual assault in Los Angeles in 2022 and sentenced to 16 years in prison for the offenses. More than 80 women have accused Weinstein of sexual assault or harassment after charges were first reported against him in 2017 by The New York Times and The New Yorker. The publications helped inspire a wider reckoning in the entertainment and other high-profile industries, with #MeToo cases trending as several victims came forward to share their experiences of sexual abuse.
Taylor Swift vs DJ David Mueller
A Colorado jury has unanimously sided with Taylor Swift in her groping lawsuit and found David Mueller guilty of assault and battery. pic.twitter.com/tia4Uh07hU
— E! News (@enews) August 15, 2017
There is a reason why Taylor Swift is a role model to young women and it goes beyond her successful career as a musician. Regarded as a feminist icon, Swift’s decision to stand up against sexual misconduct and misogyny was reflected heavily in her iconic testimony during David Mueller’s civil trial in 2015. The former radio host, David Mueller sued Swift, her mother, and her radio promotions director Frank Bell, alleging they pressured KYGO to terminate him based on her accusations that he inappropriately touched her at a backstage meet-and-greet event. While Mueller sued Swift for USD 3 million in damages, claiming her allegations were false and cost him his job, the singer counter-sued him for battery and sexual assault, seeking a symbolic USD 1 in damages. The trial lasted one week and ended with Swift’s impressive win.
Blac Chyna vs The Kardashians
The tumultuous history of reality TV star Blac Chyna and her ex-fiancé Rob Kardashian’s family reached new highs after she accused Kim Kardashian, her sisters Khloe and Kylie Jenner, and their mother, Kris Jenner, of defamation in a USD 108 million lawsuit. Chyna claimed the involvement of the Kardashian family members in the cancellation of her reality show, Rob & Chyna and accused them of ruining her career. The highly publicised trial witnessed some bombshell revelations including Kris Jenner’s claim that Chyna — whose legal name is Angela White, once put a gun to Rob’s head during a “traumatising” argument. After a 10-day trial, the final verdict saw Chyna losing the USD 108 million suit against the Kardashians, with the judge awarding her zero in damages.
Britney Spear’s lawsuit against Jamie Spears
On June 23 2021, Britney Spears publicly addressed a court in Los Angeles, telling the judge that she was “traumatised” and held against her will with all of her rights stripped away by her conservators, including her father Jamie Spears. Five months later, judge Brenda Penny granted the termination of her 13-year conservatorship. The end of her conservatorship was a big win for the singer’s supporters who had kicked off the Free Britney movement. However, the end of the conservatorship wasn’t the end of her legal troubles as her father Jamie Spears requested more than USD 2 million from Britney’s estate to cover his legal fees. In response, Britney’s lawyer accused her father of trying to extort money and argued that Jamie had already taken millions from Britney’s estate. The lengthy two-and-a-half-year legal battle over Jamie Spears’ management of her finances and legal fees was eventually settled over an undisclosed sum in April 2024.
(Main and featured images: It Ends With Us/IMDb; Taylor Swift/Instagram)
