Blake Lively may be sitting out one of fashion’s biggest nights.
The actress, long considered a staple at the Met Gala, is reportedly not expected to attend the 2026 event after failing to secure an invite. Her absence comes as she remains locked in a legal dispute with her “It Ends With Us” co-star Justin Baldoni, a situation insiders claim is beginning to affect her standing in Hollywood.
Lively last walked the Met steps in 2022, where she co-chaired the event alongside husband Ryan Reynolds.
Lively made her 2022 Met Gala appearance count, but it remains her last to date.
The actress turned heads in a strapless metallic gown that shifted between turquoise and copper tones, instantly becoming one of the night’s standout looks. After commanding so much attention, fans expected her to remain a fixture at future events. Instead, Lively quietly skipped the following year and has yet to return.
Now, the actress is expected to miss the upcoming May event as well, with reports suggesting her absence may not be by choice but because she did not receive an invitation.
Lively’s Alleged Met Gala Snub Tied To Legal Feud
Questions are already swirling over why Lively may have been left off the Met Gala guest list.
Much of the focus has landed on her ongoing legal battle with Baldoni, with whom she reportedly had a strained relationship even before the film’s 2024 release.
In December of that year, Lively filed a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department, as reported by ABC News Australia. The actress accused her co-star of sexual harassment, boundary violations, and orchestrating a smear campaign to damage her reputation.
She later escalated the matter into a lawsuit, bringing 13 claims that expanded on the original allegations.
Fans React To Blake Lively’s Possible Met Gala Absence
The decision has not been confirmed by Met Gala organizers, leaving open the possibility that Lively could still make an appearance. Still, that hasn’t stopped fans from reacting to the prospect of her absence, and many aren’t happy.
“This makes me sad. She was a Met Gala icon. Her Empire State gown was just the greatest gown I’ve ever seen,” one fan said on Instagram, recalling Lively’s standout 2022 look.
“I feel like anytime a woman speaks up in HW, they get silenced. And everyone ALWAYS believes the man. Shameful,” another commented, referencing her feud with Baldoni.
Elsewhere, some users have gone a step further, speculating about how the actress might be taking the news. One commenter claimed she is “probably fuming right now,” suggesting Lively may have been hoping the event would help reset her public image.
Lively Loses Majority Of Claims In Lawsuit Against Baldoni
Earlier this month, Lively faced a major setback in her legal battle when Judge Lewis Liman dismissed ten of the 13 claims she had brought against Baldoni. The dismissed allegations included harassment and defamation, two key pillars of her case against the film director.
In his ruling, Liman stated that the alleged incidents occurred outside California, meaning they did not meet the legal threshold required to be tried under the state’s laws.
“None of these acts or occurrences provides the ‘substantial connection’ to California needed to sustain Lively’s sexual harassment claims,” the judge wrote in his 152-page decision.
He further noted that Lively could not pursue certain claims related to harassment and retaliation because she was classified as an independent contractor rather than an employee.
Blake Lively’s Trial Against Baldoni Set To Begin In May
After the court’s ruling, only three of Lively’s claims remain headed to trial, including breach of contract, retaliation, and aiding and abetting retaliation.
Following the ruling, Baldoni’s legal team said it was “grateful to the Court for its careful review of the facts, law, and voluminous evidence that was provided.”
They added that they are confident heading into the next phase, noting, “We look forward to presenting our defense to the remaining claims in court.”
The case is currently scheduled to begin on May 18, with jury selection expected to take place in the days leading up to the trial.
Both Lively and Baldoni are expected to testify, along with additional witnesses whose identities have not yet been disclosed.