Blake Lively‘s bombshell appearance at the Met Gala showed she is ‘moving on’ after her Justin Baldoni settlement humiliation.
The 38-year-old actress – who was recently trolled by Baldoni’s lawyer for being too ‘scared’ to testify – had walked the red carpet at the annual event on Monday, with her own attorney labeling the star ‘incredibly brave.’
Just hours earlier, it was revealed Lively and Baldoni settled their explosive legal battle before the May 18 trial date. The Gossip Girl alum received no payout from Baldoni, but she is demanding that he pay her legal fees.
Lively’s lawyer Sigrid McCawley told Entertainment Tonight on Thursday that the star is ‘moving on with her life.’
In regards to the mom-of-four making her return to the Met Gala, McCawley stated that it was to show Lively is ‘standing up and not being silenced.’
‘That’s exactly what Blake is intent on doing. We wouldn’t want any woman in that position to be silenced. They should be out living their life.’
Blake Lively’s, 38, bombshell appearance at the Met Gala showed she is ‘moving on’ after her Justin Baldoni settlement humiliation
Just hours earlier, it was revealed Lively and Baldoni settled their explosive legal battle before the May 18 trial date. The Gossip Girl alum received no payout from Baldoni, but she is demanding that he pay her legal fees; seen in February in NYC
Following the settlement, McCawley gave insight into Lively’s next steps.
The actress is now prioritizing ‘exposing the digital retaliation campaign here that was weaponized against her.’
Her attorney added that Lively ‘was incredibly brave to stand up for herself in that moment and for others in the workplace and she’s going to continue to pave that path of being really bold and brave in this moment.’
Baldoni’s lawyer Bryan Freedman also commented on the actress’s appearance at the annual event in NYC.
‘I don’t know that it was the wisest choice. If that’s what she needs to heal, then more power to her,’ he said, according to Entertainment Tonight.
Lively had walked the star-studded red carpet solo in an archival Atelier Versace dress with a shimmering bodice and full skirt.
Her husband Ryan Reynolds did not accompany her during the festivities and the actress claimed she was ‘shy’ during an interview while wishing she was joined by her four kids James, 11, Inez, nine, Betty, six, and Olin, three.
Baldoni also recently made a public appearance for the first time since the settlement was announced.
In regards to the mom-of-four making her return to the Met Gala, McCawley stated that it was to show Lively is ‘standing up and not being silenced
Her attorney added that Lively ‘was incredibly brave to stand up for herself in that moment and for others in the workplace and she’s going to continue to pave that path of being really bold and brave in this moment’
Baldoni’s lawyer Bryan Freedman also commented on the actress’s appearance at the annual event in NYC; Freedman seen in 2025
The filmmaker was seen with his wife Emily during an outing together in Nashville on Wednesday.
Baldoni held a big smile on his face while holding hands with his wife following the court drama.
He is also focusing on ‘moving forward’ with his wife and two children in Nashville.
‘It’s obviously been an incredibly difficult time for the whole family, but Nashville has given them a fresh start,’ a source told People in an article published on Friday.
The insider added that Baldoni and Emily are both ‘incredibly resilient and grounded’ while adding that he is ‘not someone who sits around dwelling on the past and feeling sorry for himself.’
‘Right now, their focus is really on family and moving forward,’ the source continued.
Lively initially filed a lawsuit in December 2024 where she accused Baldoni of sexual harassment and launching a smear campaign against her.
Baldoni responded with a $400 million lawsuit against the actress as well as filing a $250 million libel claim against the New York Times which reported on Lively’s allegations. The case was later dismissed by a judge in June of last year.
Last month in April, a judge tossed out Lively’s sexual harassment and fat-shaming claims against Baldoni.
Baldoni is also focusing on ‘moving forward’ with his wife and two children in Nashville; seen in 2024 in NYC
Last month in April, a judge tossed out Lively’s sexual harassment and fat-shaming claims against Baldoni; the pair seen above in It Ends With Us (2024)
The actress was left with three claims to pursue: breach of contract, retaliation, and aiding and abetting retaliation.
And then on Monday, shortly before Lively and Baldoni were set to go to trial, it was revealed the pair had reached a settlement amid their legal battle.
A joint statement was issued as they said their film It Ends With Us was still a ‘source of pride’ for them both while also raising awareness to survivors of domestic violence.
‘We acknowledge the process presented challenges and recognize concerns raised by Ms Lively deserved to be heard.
‘We remain firmly committed to workplaces free of improprieties and unproductive environments,’ they expressed.
Neither party issued an apology in the statement.
Baldoni and Lively’s teams added that it was their ‘sincere hope that this brings closure and allows all involved to move forward constructively and in peace, including a respectful environment online.’
It was also later revealed that Lively received no payout from Baldoni in the settlement.
It was also later revealed that Lively received no payout from Baldoni in the settlement; seen in 2024 in London
However, the actress has demanded that her former It Ends With Us co-star and director pay her legal fees.
Lively and Baldoni reportedly spent $60 million combined to sue and countersue one another, according to Page Six.
The Gossip Girl alum was also recently trolled by Baldoni’s lawyer Bryan Freedman who claimed that she was too ‘scared’ to testify and have her ‘lies exposed.’
In a statement to TMZ on Thursday, Freedman claimed that a trial would have ‘exposed her lies.’
‘Part of the reason Blake settled is because she was scared to take the witness stand at trial. She did not want to face cross examination by anyone because that would require her to tell the truth.’
He asked, ‘If she’s doing this for survivors of sexual assault and sexual harassment and retaliation as she says, then why don’t you take the stand at trial and prove it to the world?
‘A trial would have exposed her lies and the entire smear she was talking about in her interviews that she did.’
Baldoni’s attorney also alleged that the actress ‘lied about telling Sony to destroy the dailies.’
Lively and Baldoni reportedly spent $60 million combined to sue and countersue one another, according to Page Six; seen in 2024 in NYC
Baldoni’s attorney also alleged that the actress ‘lied about telling Sony to destroy the dailies’; seen in 2025 in NYC
He appeared to be referring to Lively’s testimony that she did not ask anyone to get rid of raw footage from It Ends with Us. But it was later disputed by an email from Sony executive Ange Giannetti.
Freedman claimed that Lively ‘lied that she never told Colleen Hoover to unfollow Justin Baldoni. In her deposition, Colleen said Blake asked her to unfollow him.’
He added that the actress ‘ended up with nothing’ in the settlement before adding, ‘If this is a resounding victory, what does a defeat look like?’
Lively’s own legal team responded to Freedman’s comments by telling TMZ, ‘I guess he’s no longer “ecstatic” about the settlement.’
