Blake Lively failed to raise a smile as she attended an equestrian event over the weekend – just days after settling her bitter court battle with Justin Baldoni.
The actress, 38, whose 2024 sexual harassment suit against her It Ends With Us co-star Baldoni was ‘gutted’ weeks before the humiliating settlement, looked glum as she stepped out in North Salem, New York on Saturday.
Lively was seen deep in thought and frowning during the day out with friends – while husband Ryan Reynolds is in Bermuda ahead of competing in the Apex Group Bermuda Sail Grand Prix.
In contrast with Lively’s tense demeanor, Reynolds looked happy and relaxed as he sailed with his BONDS Flying Roos SailGP team, 800 miles away from his wife and their four young children.
Lively’s casual outing was fresh off her surprise appearance at the Met Gala on Monday, where she stunned fans by attending fashion’s biggest night just hours after the explosive legal battle was settled two weeks before the May 18 trial date.
The star received no payout from Baldoni, but she is demanding that he pay her legal fees.
Blake Lively failed to raise a smile as she attended an equestrian event over the weekend – just days after settling her bitter court battle with Justin Baldoni
The actress, 38, whose 2024 sexual harassment suit against her It Ends With Us co-star was ‘gutted’ weeks before the humiliating settlement, looked glum as she stepped out in North Salem on Saturday – Lively and Baldoni seen in a still from the film
In contrast with Lively’s tense demeanor, Reynolds looked happy and relaxed as he sailed with his BONDS Flying Roos SailGP team 800 miles away from his wife in Bermuda – seen Friday
The shock deal came just weeks before their scheduled trial, after a judge ‘gutted’ Lively’s 2024 sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit by tossing out her key allegations last month.
The actress, who was recently trolled by Baldoni’s lawyer for being too ‘scared’ to testify, walked the red carpet alone at fashion’s biggest night.
Read More
EXCLUSIVE ALISON BOSHOFF: Why Blake Lively was desperate to settle and how she wanted to ‘destroy’ Baldoni
Lively’s lawyer Sigrid McCawley told Entertainment Tonight on Thursday that the star is ‘moving on with her life’.
In regards to the mom-of-four making her return to the Met Gala, McCawley stated that it was to show Lively is ‘standing up and not being silenced’.
‘That’s exactly what Blake is intent on doing. We wouldn’t want any woman in that position to be silenced. They should be out living their life.’
Following the settlement, McCawley gave insight into Lively’s next steps.
The actress is now prioritizing ‘exposing the digital retaliation campaign here that was weaponized against her.’
Her attorney added that Lively ‘was incredibly brave to stand up for herself in that moment and for others in the workplace and she’s going to continue to pave that path of being really bold and brave in this moment’.
Lively enjoyed a coffee with a friend during the day
The actress’s expression said it all just days after the end of her legal battle
Lively took in the scenic views as she enjoyed a day of leisure
Lively cut a stylish figure in a green cardigan, jeans and a pink blouse
Lively checked out some horses during the horse competition
A giddy Reynolds posed with his sailing team in the Caribbean – seen Friday
It’s been an eventful week for Lively, who made a surprise appearance at the Met Gala on Monday, just hours after it was revealed that she and Baldoni settled their explosive legal battle
Reynolds is said to have pushed for Lively to settle with her co-star Baldoni. Lively received no payout from Baldoni, but she is demanding that he pay her legal fees; Baldoni seen in February
Baldoni’s lawyer Bryan Freedman also commented on the actress’s appearance at the annual event in NYC.
‘I don’t know that it was the wisest choice. If that’s what she needs to heal, then more power to her,’ he said, according to Entertainment Tonight.
Baldoni’s attorney also claimed that Lively settled her legal feud with the director because she was too ‘scared’ to testify at trial, in an interview with TMZ.
The high-profile litigator claimed a trial would have ‘exposed her lies’ and pointed out that Lively ‘ended up with nothing’ following the settlement.
‘Part of the reason Blake settled is because she was scared to take the witness stand at trial. She did not want to face cross examination by anyone because that would require her to tell the truth.’
Lively’s husband did not accompany her for the Met Gala, and the actress claimed she was ‘shy’ during an interview while wishing she was joined by her kids.
Reynolds found himself sucked into the debacle with Baldoni, who in his later-defunct countersuit accused Reynolds of ‘swearing’ and ‘berating him in an aggressive tirade’ at a meeting held at the couple’s New York penthouse back in 2023 – where Reynolds was present as his wife’s ‘representative’ to discuss Baldoni’s conduct on the set of It Ends With Us.
Later, in a series of text messages unsealed during the he-said-she-said lawsuit battle, Reynolds was shown to have lashed out at ‘dumb-dumb’ Baldoni.
Despite their distance, Reynolds paid a tribute to his ‘fearless’ wife in a gushing Mother’s Day post on Sunday
The Gossip Girl star reposted the tribute to her own stories, writing ‘I happen to be pretty fond of you too’
Baldoni also recently made a public appearance for the first time since the settlement was announced.
The filmmaker was seen with his wife Emily during an outing together in Nashville on Wednesday.
Baldoni held a big smile on his face while holding hands with his wife following the court drama.
He is also focusing on ‘moving forward’ with his wife and two children in Nashville.
It Ends With Us starred Lively as flower shop owner Lily Bloom who marries neurosurgeon Ryle Kincaid, played by Baldoni. The movie grossed more than $351million worldwide.
