Quick Read
- Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni reached a settlement in their sexual harassment lawsuit just hours before the Met Gala.
- The settlement effectively cancels a scheduled May 18 trial after a judge had previously dismissed 10 of Lively’s 13 claims.
- Ryan Reynolds skipped the event as he remains focused on his Wrexham soccer club’s high-stakes push for a playoff spot.
NEW YORK (Azat TV) – Blake Lively made a high-profile return to the Met Gala on Monday, May 4, 2026, appearing on the red carpet just hours after confirming a settlement in her contentious legal battle with director and actor Justin Baldoni. The actress, who had been absent from the annual fundraiser since 2023, attended the event solo, with her husband, Ryan Reynolds, noticeably absent from the proceedings.
Legal Settlement Ends High-Stakes Litigation
The resolution of the case, which was scheduled to head to trial on May 18, brings a sudden close to nearly two years of public and private conflict. Lively had sued Baldoni in December 2024, alleging sexual harassment, retaliation, and breach of contract during the production of their film It Ends With Us. Following a series of court rulings in April 2026 that narrowed the scope of the lawsuit, both parties opted to settle rather than proceed to a jury trial.
In a joint statement issued via their attorneys on May 4, Lively and Baldoni expressed a commitment to moving forward. “We acknowledge the process presented challenges and recognize concerns raised by Ms. Lively deserved to be heard,” the statement read. “We remain firmly committed to workplaces free of improprieties and unproductive environments.”
Ryan Reynolds and the Wrexham Focus
While Lively took the spotlight in New York, Ryan Reynolds’ absence from the Met Gala drew significant attention, particularly given the couple’s history as co-chairs of the 2022 event. Reynolds, 49, has recently been preoccupied with the high-stakes performance of his Wrexham soccer club. The team is currently fighting for a crucial playoff spot, a development that has dominated the actor’s recent public commentary.
In late April, Reynolds joked on social media that he required a “defibrillator” to manage the stress of the team’s season, which is currently being chronicled in the fifth season of his docuseries, Welcome to Wrexham. The actor’s focus remains centered on the club’s push for Premier League promotion as the regular season concludes.
A Return to the Fashion Spotlight
Lively’s appearance at the Metropolitan Museum of Art was marked by a pastel Atelier Versace gown, a choice that signaled a return to her status as a fixture of the gala. Donatella Versace, the brand’s chief brand ambassador, noted the significance of the appearance, highlighting Lively’s long-standing relationship with the house. The actress accessorized with a custom Judith Leiber bag, which featured personal artwork created by her four children.
The strategic timing of the settlement, arriving mere weeks before a high-profile trial, suggests a mutual desire to avoid a protracted public airing of industry grievances that had already resulted in the dismissal of several key claims. By stepping onto the red carpet hours later, Lively successfully pivoted the public narrative from the courtroom to the runway, effectively closing the chapter on the legal dispute while re-establishing her visibility in the cultural sphere.