Blake Lively’s attorney is defending the actress’ decision to attend the 2026 Met Gala just hours after settling her legal battle with It Ends With Us director and costar Justin Baldoni.
“[Lively is] moving on with her life,” lawyer Sigrid McCawley told Entertainment Tonight on Thursday, May 7.
When asked if Lively’s appearance at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on Monday, May 4, was a strategic move following her legal victory, McCawley said it was about “standing up and not being silenced.”
“That’s exactly what Blake is intent on doing,” she continued. “We wouldn’t want any woman in that position to be silenced. They should be out living their life.”
McCawley added that Lively, 38, is now focused “on exposing the digital retaliation campaign here that was weaponized against her.”
“She 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,” the attorney concluded.
A source confirmed to Us Weekly earlier this week that Lively was invited to the Met Gala by Anna Wintour despite rumors that the Gossip Girl alum paid to attend the event.
Baldoni’s lawyer Bryan Freedman also reacted to Lively’s appearance at the event.
“I don’t know that it was the wisest choice,” Freedman said, per ET. “If that’s what she needs to heal, then more power to her.”
Baldoni’s and Lively’s legal teams announced the It Ends With Us costars’ settlement hours before the Met Gala on Monday. The case had been set to go to trial in two weeks.
“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,” their attorneys said in a statement to Us. “We acknowledge the process presented challenges and recognize concerns raised by Ms. Lively deserved to be heard.”
The statement continued, “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.”
Lively later filed a notice of settlement, in which she requested damages to cover her attorneys’ fees and costs, as well as compensatory and punitive damages, according to court documents obtained by Us on Thursday.
“This settlement is a resounding victory for Blake Lively,” her legal team told Us on Thursday. “By agreeing to this settlement, and waiving their right to appeal, Justin Baldoni and every individual defendant now face personal liability for abusing the legal system to silence and intimidate Ms. Lively. And by admitting that Ms. Lively’s concerns ‘deserved to be heard,’ the defendants have ended once and for all the fiction that Ms. Lively ‘fabricated’ claims of sexual harassment and retaliation.”
Freedman responded to the filing in a separate statement, telling Us, “Let’s be clear, this is a win and total victory for the Wayfarer parties. The court had already dismissed 10 of Ms. Lively’s 13 claims, including every sexual harassment claim, every defamation claim, and all claims against the individual defendants.”
The statement continued, “Ms. Lively voluntarily dismissed the rest. In our view, they settled because they knew they were going to lose in court. All that remains is a pending request for fees based on a very narrow issue that has been with the court since September 2025.”
