Blake Lively Makes A Surprise Appearance at The 2026 MET Gala as A Versace Muse Hours after Legal Dispute Settlement with Justin Baldoni

Blake Lively made a surprise appearance at the MET Gala 2026, just hours after settling her high-profile legal dispute with It Ends With Us co-star Justin Baldoni. Draped in an archival Versace from 2006, the actress looked radiant and enthusiastic at the occasion.

The dramatic ruffle gown was in the shades of cream and purple with intricate detailing on the waist and a halter neckline. Talking to Vogue about the inspiration behind the ensemble, the actress revealed that the outfit is based on “a sunrise and a sunset and watercolor.”

Lively paired the outfit with a Judith Leiber bag, which had some special sentiments attached to it. The bag consisted of artwork made by her children, James, Inez, Betty, and Olin.

The actress glammed up the accessories with a pair of pink sapphire, kunzite, and diamond earrings, a 30-carat yellow diamond ring as well as a 10-carat pink sapphire ring curated by celebrity jewelry designer, Lorraine Schwartz.

This marks The Age of Adaline actress’s 11th time attending the MET Gala, where her last appearance was in the year 2022, when she also co-chaired the event. She made her MET Gala debut in the year 2008 and has been a regular figure at the occasion, before stepping back from public events following the controversy over her conduct during the promotional campaign for 'It Ends With Us.'

Blake Lively’s 2026 MET Gala photos and videos quickly went viral, prompting reactions from social media users. The internet had a mixed reaction to Lively’s appearance on the occasion. While some were overjoyed to see her comeback on the MET Gala red carpet, others were not enamored to see her, declaring their support for “#TeamJustin.”

One of the social media users wrote, “Team Justin.” Another Instagram user said, “Who invited her? Why is she there?” A user added, “All that color still ain’t enough to brighten up her personality.” Another social media user took a dig at The Shallows actress and wrote, “The comeback we did not need.” An Instagram user mocked the actress, stating, “Fake Lively.”

However, Blake Lively also had her fair share of fans who were delighted to see her surprise appearance at the MET Gala 2026. One of the fans stated, “All her MET Gala looks have been amazing; this one is no exception. Love to see her back on the red carpet.” Another user stated, “She is the Queen.”

An Instagram user added, “The Queen of the MET Gala, she never misses.” A user chimed in, “Always the showstopper for this event, slay.” A fan said, “Let the haters hate, it only affects them. This is stunning.”

Lively’s appearance commanded attention because she settled her long-running dispute with Justin Baldoni just hours before attending the MET Gala 2026. The joint statement from both parties, obtained by Page Six, read, “The end product – the movie ‘It Ends With Us’ – is a source of pride to all of us who worked to bring it to life. Raising awareness and making a meaningful impact in the lives of domestic violence survivors – and all survivors – is a goal that we stand behind. We acknowledge the process presented challenges and recognize concerns raised by Ms. Lively deserved to be heard.”

Both parties also added that they “remain firmly committed to workplaces free of improprieties and unproductive environments” and it is their “sincere hope that this brings closure and allows all involved to move forward constructively and in peace, including a respectful environment online.”