Blake Lively criticised as she attends Met Gala after settling Justin Baldoni dispute
Photo: Reuters
Podcaster Zack Peter has publicly criticised Blake Lively after her appearance at the 2026 Met Gala, which came just hours after she settled her legal dispute with Justin Baldoni.
The lawsuit, linked to the production of It Ends With Us, had been ongoing for months and was scheduled to go to trial in May before being resolved out of court. Shortly after the settlement was confirmed, Lively attended the high-profile Met Gala event in New York City, drawing widespread attention online.
Peter, a pop culture commentator, addressed the situation in a video shared on social media, where he questioned Lively’s decision to settle the case despite previously stating she had strong evidence. He argued that the actress had positioned the lawsuit as a broader stand for workplace issues but ultimately chose not to pursue it in court.
Blake Lively SHAMELESSLY attends the Met Gala, amid tossing out her lawsuit that she claimed was a fight for women… 🫠 pic.twitter.com/VvD7hIvpmK
During his commentary, Peter also compared Lively to Amber Heard, referencing past high-profile legal disputes in Hollywood. He further alleged that Lively’s public appearance at the Met Gala reflected a focus on maintaining her image within the entertainment industry.
The timing of Lively’s Met Gala appearance drew widespread online backlash, with critics calling her decision to attend a glamorous event hours after resolving a serious legal dispute “tone deaf.” Some users also called for organisers to reconsider her presence at future galas.
Blake Lively’s Met Gala Moment Was Deeply Tone-Deaf
— Queen Esther (@XOQueenEsther) May 5, 2026
Blake Lively showing up at the Met Gala this year, smiling like nothing happened, honestly felt surreal. Not in a good way. More like… are we all just expected to pretend the last two years didn’t happen?
Because that’s what… pic.twitter.com/cU97Yovi1JAllegedly Blake Lively wasn’t invited to the Met Gala and still made it happen last minute spending 100k purchasing a ticket but that level of styling doesn’t come together overnight. She was distraught missing last year, made sure to drop that she settled with Justin Baldoni on…
The podcaster also highlighted that several of Lively’s initial claims, including allegations of sexual harassment, had been dismissed earlier in the legal process. Remaining claims were expected to be addressed at trial before the settlement halted proceedings.
While details of the agreement have not been disclosed, both parties previously issued a joint statement describing the film as a source of pride and reaffirming their commitment to professional work environments.
The situation continues to generate debate across social media, with discussions focusing on celebrity accountability, legal strategy, and public perception in high-profile disputes.