Actress Blake Lively is done staying silent as she finally addresses her ongoing legal battle with co-star Justin Baldoni.
On April 24, 2025, the Simple Favor star, who has been named one of TIME Magazine’s 100 most influential people, took the stage at the annual TIME100 Gala held at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City to deliver a powerful and deeply personal speech.
Lively began by expressing heartfelt gratitude for the honor before emphasizing the responsibility that comes with such recognition. She told the crowd,
“How we use that matters. Who and what we stand up for, and what we stay silent about, what we monetize versus what we actually live, matters… The feeling of being a woman who has a voice today”.
The actress then opened up about her personal history, drawing strength from her mother’s story, a survivor of unimaginable trauma. She emotionally shared,
“My life was influenced most by my mother who is the survivor of the worst crime someone can commit against a woman. My mom never got justice from her work acquaintance who attempted to take her life…”
Blake Recalls How A Stranger Saved Her Mother’s Life After Trauma
Further reflecting on the aftermath of her mother’s trauma, Blake recalled how a stranger’s voice on the radio became an unexpected lifeline. She shared,
“The woman painfully and graphically shared how she escaped. And because of hearing that woman speak about her experience instead of shutting down in fear and unfair shame, my mom is alive today. She was saved by a woman whose name she’ll never know”.
Lively concluded her speech by shining a light on the heartbreaking reality women continue to face in today’s world. The Gossip Girl alum stated,
“Our daughters… are not and will likely never be safe at work, at home, in a parking lot in a medical office, online, in any space they inhabit physically, emotionally, professionally… [But] never underestimate a woman’s ability to endure pain”.
Blake has alleged in her December 2024 lawsuit that she is a survivor of sexual abuse, accusing her It Ends With Us co-star and director, Justin Baldoni, of sexual harassment and defamation.
In the same lawsuit, Lively also named other individuals involved in the film, including actor Adam Mondschein, who portrayed OBGYN Dr. Dunbar.
She alleged that during a scene in which she was nearly nude from the chest down, Mondschein’s “face and hands were in close proximity” to her private parts, making her feel deeply uncomfortable on set. However, Adam has firmly denied all allegations.
Meanwhile, Baldoni responded in January 2025 with a staggering $400 million defamation countersuit against Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds. The legal battle remains ongoing, with a trial scheduled for March 9, 2026.
Fans Harshly Slam Blake Lively Over Her Emotional Speech
The online community wasn’t buying Lively’s heartfelt speech at the TIME100 Gala. Critics quickly took to social media to call out what they saw as insincerity amid her ongoing legal drama. Some such comments read,
“You’ve GOT TO BE JOKING ME”.
“I actually cannot name a more insufferable person”.
“Wow such a fake speech”.
“Time for Blake to start singing a different song! Honestly. It is just shameful”.
Blake Lively’s speech has sparked a wave of public backlash, proving not everyone is buying the narrative. As her legal battle rages on, she finds herself not just in court, but on trial in the eyes of a skeptical public.