Blake Lively made a bombshell return to the Met Gala 2026 red carpet on Monday just hours after finally settling her explosive Justin Baldoni legal battle.
The actress, 38 – who attended the event solo without husband Ryan Reynolds – finally reached a settlement with Baldoni’s production company, Wayfarer Studios, as well as his PR agency, over claims of retaliation and breach of contract relating to their 2024 movie It Ends With Us.
In a joint statement released on Monday, the pair said the film remained a ‘source of pride’ to all who worked to bring it to life and emphasized its mission to raise awareness for domestic violence survivors.
‘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 added.
The statement did not include an apology from either party, who have been locked in a messy court battle since December 2024, when Lively first launched her multimillion-dollar suit.
Instead, Baldoni and Lively’s teams said 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.’
Blake Lively made a bombshell return to the Met Gala 2026 red carpet on Monday just hours after finally settling her explosive Justin Baldoni legal battle
The actress, 38, looked giddy as she returned to the iconic steps in the wake of the lawsuit drama
Wayfarer, It Ends With Us Movie LLC, and The Agency Group (TAG PR) are said to be ecstatic at the way in which this matter was resolved.
Lively gave no hint of the off-screen drama, appearing completely unbothered as she stepped out in a show-stopping archival Atelier Versace gown from the brand’s Spring 2006 collection.
Leaning into full red carpet theatrics, the look was finished with a sweeping 13-foot train that trailed behind her.
Its draped bodice hugged her figure and was embellished with delicate gemstones in soft shades of powder pink, yellow, coral, peach and lilac.
Lively has become a regular presence at the Met Gala over the years, often opting for bold Versace looks.
In 2022, she wore a gown inspired by the Statue of Liberty, which transformed on the carpet to reveal a copper-toned train.
She also attended in 2018 in a red-and-gold Versace design for the ‘Heavenly Bodies’ theme.
Perhaps it was her long-standing Met Gala presence that brought her back to the carpet on Monday, despite the shocking news that her legal battle had wrapped up just hours earlier.
Lively gave no hint of the off-screen drama, appearing completely unbothered as she stepped out in a show-stopping archival Atelier Versace gown from the brand’s Spring 2006 collection
Its draped bodice hugged her figure and was embellished with delicate gemstones in soft shades of powder pink, yellow, coral, peach and lilac