If you’ve spent any time on social media lately, you know the vibe around Blake Lively has shifted from "Met Gala Queen" to "Legal Headline Regular." It’s a lot to keep track of. One day she’s launching a new flavor of Betty Booze, and the next, there are unsealed court documents about "traps" and "Buckingham Palace" home offices.
Honestly, the Blake Lively news today is a tangled web of Hollywood power plays and serious courtroom drama. We’re well past the "did they or didn't they get along on set?" phase. We are now firmly in the middle of a high-stakes legal battle with It Ends With Us director Justin Baldoni that feels more like a thriller than a press tour.
The Big Lawyer Move: Sigrid McCawley Joins the Fray
The most recent update—and probably the most telling—is that Blake just leveled up her legal team. On January 16, 2026, news broke that she hired Sigrid McCawley.
If that name sounds familiar, it should. McCawley is the high-profile attorney who famously represented Jeffrey Epstein’s victims, including Virginia Giuffre. This isn't just a "celebrity lawyer" hire; it’s a tactical move that signals exactly how serious Blake's side is taking the allegations of a hostile work environment.
According to McCawley’s statement to People, this case is fundamentally about a woman being attacked for standing up for herself and her female co-workers. By bringing in someone known for "speaking truth to power," Blake is doubling down on her claims that the It Ends With Us set was not the professional environment it should have been.
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"Buckingham Palace" and Unsealed Texts
Court cases are usually dry, but this one is getting weirdly specific. Recent depositions have pulled back the curtain on Blake’s New York life. Justin Baldoni claimed in his testimony that Blake used to call her home office "Buckingham Palace" because of the sheer number of A-list celebrities who filtered through there.
It sounds like a throwaway comment, but it’s being used to paint a picture of her influence. Then there are the texts.
A December 2023 message from Baldoni surfaced where he told his team he felt Blake was "setting me up for a trap." Why? Apparently, it was over the filming of intimate scenes. Baldoni claimed she refused a body double for herself but insisted on one for him, and that she was basically "rewriting the writer and director."
On the flip side, Blake’s camp says those texts only happened after she’d already flagged major issues with his behavior. It’s a classic "he said, she said," but with millions of dollars and reputations on the line.
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Where Does Ryan Reynolds Fit In?
You can’t talk about Blake without Ryan. He’s been a central figure in the court documents, though he hasn't been deposed yet. There’s that now-infamous allegation of a "tearful confrontation" in April 2023.
The story goes that Ryan confronted Baldoni for allegedly "fat-shaming" Blake—who had recently given birth—on set. What makes this extra "Hollywood" is that Taylor Swift and Hugh Jackman were reportedly nearby when it happened.
Baldoni actually tried to sue Ryan and Blake for $400 million, alleging defamation and extortion. A judge threw that out in June 2025, which Blake’s team called a "total victory." But the war is far from over.
The Business Must Go On
Despite the legal storm, Blake is still very much in "boss mode." She’s been spotted recently promoting Blake Brown, her haircare line, and expanding the Betty Buzz empire.
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- Betty Booze: She recently launched new canned cocktail flavors like Meyer Lemonade and Passion Fruit.
- Fashion: She’s still a fixture at New York Fashion Week, recently making waves in a seventies-inspired suit that reminded everyone she’s still the industry’s favorite clotheshorse.
- The Survival List: She hasn't quit acting, either. She’s set to star in and produce a new action-rom-com called The Survival List, where she plays a reality TV producer stranded on an island.
What Happens Next?
If you’re waiting for a resolution, grab some popcorn. You’re going to be waiting a while.
The trial was originally supposed to happen early this year, but Judge Lewis J. Liman pushed it back. The new date is set for May 18, 2026.
Before that, we have a significant hearing on January 22. This is where the judge will decide on Baldoni’s motion to dismiss some of Blake’s specific harassment allegations. It’s a procedural step, but it will dictate how much "dirt" actually gets aired in front of a jury in May.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Followers:
- Watch the January 22 Hearing: This will be the first major indicator of whether the case is gaining steam or losing it.
- Verify the Source: This case has triggered a wave of subpoenas against "influencers" and content creators. If you see a "bombshell" TikTok, check if it's based on the unsealed court documents or just speculation.
- Separate the Art from the Legal: With A Simple Favor 2 and The Survival List in the pipeline, expect a very different kind of PR strategy—one that likely separates her professional projects from her legal battles entirely.
The narrative around Blake Lively is currently being written in a courtroom, not on a red carpet. Whether she emerges as a "vindicatd advocate" or a "difficult collaborator" depends entirely on what those unsealed files show in the coming months.