Blake Lively made a triumphant return to the social scene on Wednesday, just two weeks after reaching a settlement with Justin Baldoni. The actress, 38, flashed a radiant smile as she posed with a friend at the Gucci High jewelry event in New York City, marking her second consecutive night out following months of staying under the radar amid the explosive It Ends With Us lawsuit.
Legal Battles Continue
Despite the shock settlement, Lively faced a fresh legal setback last week in her ongoing fight to have Baldoni cover her legal fees. A judge rejected her request to file additional briefs and provide more information before making a final decision on any fees or damages she may be entitled to, according to TMZ.
Days after the feuding parties reached a settlement in Lively's nearly two-year legal battle against her co-star, 42, it emerged that she was still pursuing him for legal fees and damages tied to his failed $400 million defamation case against her. Lively argued she is entitled to the payout as the winning party in Baldoni's defamation suit, which she alleged was filed in retaliation to her own sexual harassment lawsuit.
Demands for Compensation
Lively also demanded 'compensatory damages tripled, and punitive damages,' according to a court filing. Her legal team had already submitted motions earlier in the case but hoped to present further arguments and evidence before the judge shut down the request. The document was filed at a New York court three days after Lively settled her own case against Baldoni, just two weeks before it was scheduled to go to trial.
Baldoni had countersued Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, 49, and the New York Times in early 2025, but a judge dismissed the lawsuit last year. The settlement came after a judge 'gutted' Lively's 2024 sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit by tossing out key allegations last month. The co-stars reportedly spent a combined $60 million on legal fees for their lawsuits and countersuits, according to Page Six.
No Financial Settlement
In a joint statement announcing the settlement, neither side apologized, but they acknowledged Lively's claims 'deserved to be heard.' The Daily Mail revealed that Lively did not receive a single dollar from the surprise settlement. Despite claiming she lost nearly $300 million in earnings and income due to an alleged 'smear campaign,' no money changed hands in the final agreement. Sources in Baldoni's camp said they were 'ecstatic' with how the case was resolved.
