Blake Lively made a “shy” appearance at the 2026 Met Gala on Monday hours after settling with Justin Baldoni.
The It Ends With Us co-stars put out a joint statement revealing they had settled out-of-court following a very public and drawn-out legal battle.
The legal dispute began in December 2024 when Lively accused Baldoni of sexual harassment and of co-ordinating a smear campaign against her - something he strongly denied.
Lively was a surprise guest at the star-studded Met Gala hours after it was revealed there would no longer be a trial.
The actor, who has not attended fashion’s biggest night since she co-chaired the event in 2022, shocked fans by turning up on the red carpet in an archival pastel Versace gown with a 13-foot train.
The garment was from the Italian fashion house's spring/summer 2006 collection and consisted of a bejewelled bodice with a voluminous skirt inspired by 18th-century Venetian Rococo works.
Lively revealed her custom handbag featured watercolour drawings by her four children with husband Ryan Reynolds - James, 11, Inez, nine, Betty, six, and three-year-old Olin.
Speaking on the red carpet, she said: "I'm shy, I just like to have my kids with me."
Lively narrowly avoided going to trial with Baldoni as they settled ahead of the May 18 trial date.
They said in a statement: "The end product — the movie It Ends With Us — is a source of pride to all of us who worked to bring it to life.
“Raising awareness, and making a meaningful impact in the lives of domestic violence survivors — and all survivors — is a goal that we stand behind.
"We acknowledge the process presented challenges and recognise concerns raised by Ms. Lively deserved to be heard. We remain firmly committed to workplaces free of improprieties and unproductive environments.
"It is our sincere hope that this brings closure and allows all involved to move forward constructively and in peace, including a respectful environment online."
Terms of the settlement have not been made public.
Earlier this month, a judge dismissed ten of Lively’s 13 allegations, including harassment and defamation.
In his 152-page ruling, Judge Lewis Liman said harassment claims Lively brought against Baldoni under California law did not hold up because the filming, and alleged wrongdoing, took place in New Jersey.
Lively launched legal action against Baldoni in 2024, accusing her co-star of sexual harassment and starting a smear campaign after starring in the film It Ends With Us.
Baldoni denied the claims and launched a countersuit against Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds, while also pursuing legal action against The New York Times over an article they published, but a judge threw these out in June last year.
