Blake Lively’s First Move After It Ends With Us Settlement Raises More Questions Than Answers

Blake Lively walked the Met Gala carpet right after her years-long battle with It Ends With Us co-star Justin Baldoni. The actress had alleged that the director and her co-actor had s*xually harassed her on the sets of the movie, which was dismissed in April of 2026. This was one of the disturbing allegations made by Lively against Baldoni.

Info	Key Details
Movie Title	It Ends With Us
Directed by	Justin Baldoni
Written by	Christy Hall, Colleen Hoover
IMDb Rating (As of May 6, 2026)	6.3/10

She has been a staple entry when it comes to the fashion-forward event itself. However, was her attendance at the 2026 Met Gala a smart move just hours after her settlement on May 4, 2026? Let’s take a look at what the settlement means for the actress and if she can actually rebuild her career:

What Did the Settlement Actually Mean for Blake Lively?

In what is said to have been a “rushed” settlement, neither party received any money. Baldoni himself hasn’t issued a public apology, nor have Lively’s representatives claimed he has lost. Without an apology or the settlement the actress wanted, was this really a win for her?

As per her team, she wanted to expose the alleged smear campaign against her by Baldoni’s team, suggesting that the legal result never mattered. Settlements are never a win for either party when no money or an apology is involved. However, Lively settled with Baldoni’s production company, Wayfarer Studios, as both parties avoided millions of dollars in a federal trial. Lively made 13 allegations against Baldoni, out of which 10 were dismissed.

Was Blake Lively Showing Up at the Met Gala a Smart Move?

Lively returned to the Met Gala just hours after her settlement with Wayfarer was announced. There must have been a strategy for her return to the event and someone who pushed for it. Lively was a beloved addition because of the fashion that fans would get to see through her; however, this year, the public was not as happy.

This is too funny. No one wanted to help the bully go up the stairs 😂😂😂🤭🤭 They finally did cause she was holding things up. #blakelively #bully pic.twitter.com/7lRG9adiwS

— TV & Movie Addict 🍿🦋 (@TVMovieAddict) May 5, 2026 — Queen Esther (@XOQueenEsther) May 5, 2026

The actress’s appearance at one of the world’s most photographed and talked about events may likely be the first move she wanted to make. Lively also snapped a picture with The Devil Wears Prada 2 actress Anne Hathaway, who herself had gone through public scrutiny countless times before. The actress had to build herself up after Hollywood turned against her.

Blake Lively and Anne Hathaway attend the 2026 Met Gala. pic.twitter.com/tT7bh6Vs4k

— 21 (@21metgala) May 5, 2026

The photo itself does not seem accidental, as both of them have gone through the same circumstances in the public eye. Two actresses who have been the victims of online hate and public scrutiny are taking a picture on the night that has all the eyes of the world, which seems like a declaration. But was showing up mere hours after her settlement – without a clear victory – the right message to send to women she was fighting for?

Can Blake Lively Actually Rebuild Her Career?

According to the court filings, Lively has lost millions of dollars in potential roles, including losses tied to her companies, Betty Booze and Blake Brown, along with an It Ends With Us sequel (via The Hollywood Reporter), which is what fans think she was fighting for all along. She has also received hate online for wanting to stand up for women who have been harassed.

That’s a pretty large hole she has to climb out of, and her intention may have been to be in the fashion news rather than in legal news, where she is not so highly regarded as of yet. Hours after her entry, rumors that the actress had paid her way to an entry at the Met Gala started swirling online, but People clarified that she was invited.

Despite the settlement not being a win for Lively, it surely would stop her reputation from getting worse. Her appearance at the latest event may have been her first move towards her restoration. But the trust she has lost within her audience may be harder to restore.

Lively made allegations against Baldoni for harassment and retaliation, with power struggles when it came to creative control. It remains to be seen if Lively can regain her lost reputation among her peers and the audience.

Let us know if you think it was a good idea for Blake Lively to have attended the Met Gala right after her settlement in the comments below.