Blake Lively Speaks Out After Making TIME 100 Amid Legal Chaos With Justin Baldoni

Blake Lively has been named one of TIME Magazine’s 100 most influential people — but the moment comes at a time of immense personal turmoil. Behind the scenes, she’s in the middle of an ugly, high-stakes legal battle with her former co-star and director, Justin Baldoni. While the spotlight praises her influence, she’s quietly fighting to defend her name, her voice, and everything she’s worked for.

Lively has accused Baldoni of sexual harassment on set and of launching a retaliatory campaign after she spoke up. He fired back with a $400 million lawsuit, claiming defamation and extortion — and dragging Lively’s husband Ryan Reynolds and their publicist into it. It’s become a public war, played out in headlines and courtrooms, threatening to overshadow her entire career.

And yet, amid the chaos, Lively stood tall. In a raw and vulnerable post, she said being recognized on the TIME 100 list isn’t something she takes lightly — especially right now. With civil rights attorney Sherrilyn Ifill writing her profile, the meaning of that recognition cuts deeper than usual. It’s not about fame. It’s about resilience. About speaking up when silence would’ve been easier.

Her next film, Another Simple Favor, premieres May 1 on Prime Video — but behind the press tour smiles and red carpets, she’s still carrying the weight of a very real fight. This isn’t just Hollywood drama. This is a woman defending her truth when the cost of telling it is astronomical.