Lively Stuns at Met Gala Post-Settlement

Blake Lively graced the 2026 Met Gala with her presence, choosing an archival Atelier Versace gown, just hours after a settlement was reached in a legal dispute involving Wayfarer parties. Her legal representative stated that Lively's attendance was not a strategic move but a demonstration of her commitment to fighting digital retaliation and refusing to be silenced.

Lively had accused Wayfarer, its associates, and director Justin Baldoni of sexual harassment and a retaliatory smear campaign. While Wayfarer denied these allegations, Lively's attorneys declared the settlement, filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, a resounding victory. Bryan Freedman, attorney for Baldoni and Wayfarer, however, described it as a 'total victory' for his clients, noting that most of Lively's claims had already been dismissed by the court.

The settlement agreement allows Lively to pursue legal fees and damages under a California statute protecting those who report sexual harassment from retaliatory defamation suits. Wayfarer and Baldoni have waived any appeal rights, despite Freedman's assertion that the settlement was pursued due to the likelihood of losing in court on a narrow pending fee request. Lively's legal team highlighted the statute's role in empowering survivors to counter wrongful defamation claims.