Blake Lively returned to late-night television for the first time for an interview with Seth Meyers since filing a lawsuit against her It Ends With Us co-star and director Justin Baldoni.
Appearing on Late Night with Seth Meyers on May 1, Blake Lively opened up about what she called “the highest highs and the lowest lows” of the past year. The interview was tied to her promotional tour for the sequel Another Simple Favor, but naturally, all eyes were on her legal battle with Baldoni.
Lively didn’t go into legal specifics, citing ongoing litigation, but she did speak broadly about fear, silence, and the strength she’s drawn from other women. “So many women are afraid to speak , especially right now. And fear is by design. It’s what keeps us silent,” she said. “It’s the women who have had the ability to use their voice that’s kept me strong.” She added that not everyone has the privilege or safety to speak publicly, and she considers it a responsibility when she does.
Her lawsuit, filed in December 2024, accuses Baldoni and others of sexual harassment and a retaliatory smear campaign. Baldoni has denied all allegations and countersued Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and publicist Leslie Sloane for $400 million, claiming civil extortion and defamation. Lively’s team has called the countersuit meritless and filed a motion to dismiss, citing California laws protecting against retaliation for reporting harassment. The case is expected to go to trial in March 2026.
During her interview with Meyers, Lively also credited her children with keeping her grounded amid the chaos. “They’re my lifeline,” she said. “No matter what kind of day I’m having, I have to be Disneyland for them.” Lively and Reynolds share four children and have largely kept their family life private, though both have spoken about the grounding role of parenthood.
Lively’s reappearance in the press has been carefully timed with her professional projects. She stars in Another Simple Favor, the follow-up to the 2018 cult hit A Simple Favor, alongside Anna Kendrick. In the sequel, Emily (played by Lively) is out of prison and invites Stephanie (Kendrick) to her extravagant wedding in Italy. Director Paul Feig returns, and the film has been screening at SXSW and in New York City to strong early buzz.
Beyond the movie, Lively was recently honored at the 2025 TIME100 Gala, recognized as one of TIME’s most influential people of the year. Her continued presence on red carpets and media appearances underscores a strategic public-facing effort to stay in control of her narrative during an ongoing and very public legal saga.
While legal battles continue behind the scenes, Lively’s messaging remains firm: she believes in using her platform for advocacy, particularly on issues of women’s safety, accountability, and the importance of speaking up, even when the stakes are high.
