Blake Lively, 38, made her first public appearance since demanding a mini trial with Justin Baldoni to secure 'significant' damages, joining her husband Ryan Reynolds, 49, in New York City on Wednesday. The couple enjoyed frozen yogurt from Go Greek Yogurt, sitting in the backseat of a sleek vehicle with the window rolled down.
Lively's blonde locks flowed naturally past her shoulders, and she wore flashy earrings. Reynolds, whom she married in 2012, sat beside her in a light blue shirt. He shared a glimpse of the treats on Instagram Stories, which Lively reposted with the caption: '@gogreekyogurt The new, limited pineapple flavor is bonkers. It needs to be a staple.' She added praying hand emojis as Billy Idol's 'Hot In The City' played.
The couple have been spending time together recently, with Lively also sharing photos of Reynolds, including one of him carrying a $26,000 Hermes handbag. She jokingly captioned it: 'my account has officially turned into an onlyfans.' Last week, she 'drooled' over his muscles in another post, sharing a selfie of the couple soaking up sunshine.
Legal Battle with Justin Baldoni
Last month, Lively and Baldoni settled their explosive legal battle before a May 18 trial date. However, Lively now claims she is entitled to a mini trial for damages against Baldoni, seeking compensation for reputational harm from his failed $400 million defamation lawsuit. Her lawyers argue the sum would be 'very significant,' but Baldoni's lawyers object, calling it an 'alternative trial.'
During a hearing in Manhattan federal court, Judge Liman appeared to plead with Lively to reconsider, stating: 'Your client does have the ability to end this.' Lively wants legal fees, costs, triple damages, and punitive damages. Her lawyer Michael Gottlieb did not specify an amount but said expert testimony is needed to quantify the harm. Baldoni's lawyer Ellyn Garofalo countered that there is 'no evidence of any sort' that Lively was harmed.
Lively and Baldoni have reportedly spent $60 million on lawyers during their legal war. Lively had sought $160 million in damages after suing Baldoni for sexual harassment and an alleged 'smear campaign' related to the film 'It Ends With Us.' In April, a judge dismissed most of her case, including sexual harassment allegations, and weeks later, both sides reached a settlement with no money exchanged. Baldoni's defamation lawsuit against Lively, Reynolds, and the New York Times was dismissed in November 2024 due to privilege protections.
Public Appearances
Lively has been slowly stepping back into the spotlight, attending the Met Gala in May and a Fendi gathering in New York, followed by a Gucci High Jewelry event.
