Actress Blake Lively, 38, was seen leaving an event at Stoney Clover in New York City on Tuesday, wearing a red ensemble and appearing in positive spirits despite her ongoing civil litigation involving Justin Baldoni.
Lively was photographed in a red corset-style dress paired with embellished heels, and she appeared relaxed as she exited the venue. Observers noted that her demeanor gave no indication of the legal dispute that has been ongoing for nearly a year.
The litigation arises from events connected to the production of the 2025 film It Ends With Us, in which Lively starred and Baldoni served as director and co-star. Lively is seeking approximately $161 million in damages, alleging personal and financial losses arising from what she characterizes as retaliatory conduct and a campaign to discredit her.
Baldoni subsequently filed a $400 million defamation action against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds and The New York Times, which had reported on Lively’s allegations. A judge later dismissed Baldoni’s defamation claim. Baldoni is now seeking dismissal of Lively’s lawsuit, asserting that her allegations amount to “minor grievances” that do not rise to the level of unlawful harassment.
On Tuesday, the court announced that the civil trial date has been postponed from March 9, 2026, to May 18, 2026, with Judge Lewis Liman stating that criminal proceedings take precedence on the court’s calendar. A hearing in the matter is scheduled for January 22. The dispute first became public in December 2024.
In earlier comments to The New York Times, Lively stated that she hoped her lawsuit would expose alleged retaliatory practices and help safeguard others who come forward with concerns about misconduct. Baldoni has denied the allegations; his attorney has described them as “categorically false,” “outrageous,” and intended to damage his reputation.
In statements to various outlets, Baldoni’s attorney Bryan Freedman asserted that the accusations were unfounded and constituted an attempt to address what he characterized as negative public perception resulting from Lively’s own public statements and conduct during the film’s promotional campaign.#newsafro_
