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Blake Lively Talks ‘Fear’ in First Talk Show Interview Since Legal Feud Erupted
May
Blake Lively is opening up about her tumultuous year in her first TV interview since the legal battle with her former costar and director, Justin Baldoni, began.
In her appearance on Late Night With Seth Meyers, the Another Simple Favor actress shared that the year had been marked by both “the highest highs and lowest lows” of her life. Although she couldn’t discuss the specifics of the ongoing legal situation, she did speak about the broader issue of women speaking out and the fear that often holds them back.
“I see so many women around afraid to speak, especially now, afraid to share their experience,” Lively explained. “And fear is by design — it’s what keeps us silent. But I also acknowledge that many people don’t have the opportunity to speak, so I do feel fortunate that I have been able to.”
She continued, stressing the importance of women’s voices, “It’s the women who have had the ability to use their voice that’s kept me strong and helped me in my belief and my fight for the world to be safer for women and girls.”
Lively’s comments were met with applause from the audience, as she concluded, “It’s a pretty simple thing. It’s true.”
The Legal Battle with Justin Baldoni
Lively is referring to the lawsuit she filed in December against Baldoni, her director, producer, and costar on It Ends With Us, the film adaptation of the Colleen Hoover novel. In the lawsuit, she accused Baldoni of sexually harassing her during production and claimed he orchestrated an online smear campaign to damage her reputation.
Baldoni was dropped by his agency after the accusations became public through a complaint Lively filed with the California Civil Rights Department. His legal team denied the allegations, calling them “completely false, outrageous, and intentionally salacious, with an intent to publicly hurt and rehash a narrative in the media.”
A Smear Campaign and Legal Counterattacks
In response, Baldoni filed a countersuit against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, in January, alleging that they had attempted to take over the film and damage his reputation. Multiple legal actions followed, with a trial date set for March 9, 2026.
Lively Finds Strength in Family
During the interview, Lively also discussed how her four children — James, Inez, Betty, and Olin — have been a source of strength during this challenging period.
“No matter what day I am having,” she said, “I have to be Disneyland for them. It’s the best. It’s chaos.”
Lively’s latest project, Another Simple Favor, is the sequel to her 2018 film A Simple Favor. She reunited with costar Anna Kendrick and director Paul Feig for the comedy thriller.
