Blake Lively accused of 'systemic exploitation on a global scale' after settling Justin Baldoni legal case

Blake Lively returned to the Met Gala 2026 just hours after settling her legal battle with her It Ends with Us actor and director Justin Baldoni, but her appearance is being severely criticized.

In December 2024, Lively accused Baldoni of s****** harassing her on the set of It Ends with Us, creating a hostile work environment, and starting a "digital smear campaign" against her after she went public with her complaints.

Baldoni denied the allegation and filed a $400 million countersuit against her, Reynolds, and a publicist, which was dismissed by Judge Lewis Liman in June 2025. However, after a long legal battle, both stars have settled their case before their trial on May 18, 2026.

The 38-year-old American actress and entrepreneur, who claims to be the biggest advocate of accountability, attended the 2026 Met Gala, funded by billionaire Jeff Bezos, who has been accused of forcing his employees to urinate in bottles in order to meet the productivity demands at his company, Amazon.

An insider told Radar Online, "There is a growing perception that Blake is willing to go all-in when it comes to calling out alleged wrongdoing in Hollywood – but far less vocal when it comes to the corporate power structures she is now orbiting.”

The source added, “People are questioning how she can pursue a very public fight over workplace conduct while appearing comfortable aligning herself, even indirectly, with an event underwritten by the founder of Amazon, which has been accused of horrific abuses of its employees and the environment."

Another insider stated that the amount of criticism the Gossip Girl star is receiving is not “subtle” as it raises questions about her “inconsistency.”

They noted, “Amazon has faced repeated allegations over warehouse working conditions, intense productivity monitoring, union-busting tactics, low pay disputes, and environmental concerns tied to its logistics network and carbon footprint.”

“It feels jarring that Blake has invested so much energy into challenging one individual, yet seems untroubled by broader systemic issues linked to the event's financial backing,” said the source.

"She basically seems fine with fighting for herself but then appears fine with systemic exploitation on a global scale,” the insider claimed.

It is important to mention that Blake Lively opted for a Versace gown, a look inspired by "a sunrise and a sunset and watercolor” for this year’s “Fashion is Art” theme of the event, which took place at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 5.