Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds were conspicuously absent from the 2025 Met Gala, marking a notable departure from their usual presence at the prestigious fashion event. The couple, long-time favorites of the Met, opted to sit out the annual affair at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 5, 2025, as they continue to navigate a high-profile legal dispute with actor and producer Justin Baldoni.
While their absence wasn’t entirely unexpected—sources had hinted earlier this year that the pair would not be attending—PR expert Grayce McCormick suggests that it was a “calculated move.” In March, a source had confirmed to People that Lively, 37, and Reynolds, 48, had not attended the Met Gala since their co-chairing role in 2022 and would not be in attendance this year.
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However, McCormick points out the strategic timing of their decision. “While sources indicate that their choice was made before the escalation of their legal dispute,” McCormick told Daily Express US, “the timing aligns with a period of heightened public scrutiny.”
The legal battle involving Lively and Reynolds began in December 2024 when Lively accused Baldoni of sexual harassment and alleged that he launched a retaliatory smear campaign against her. Baldoni, the star and creator of Never Have I Ever, has denied the accusations and countersued Lively and Reynolds, along with their publicist Leslie Sloane, seeking $400 million in damages.
The couple has dismissed the countersuit as “meritless,” with a trial now scheduled for March 2026. McCormick added that their choice to skip the Met Gala could be interpreted as a move to “maintain a lower profile” and avoid becoming a “lightning rod for controversy” during an event that typically draws intense media attention.
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Despite staying out of the spotlight at the Gala, Lively is not completely retreating from public life. The actress recently made appearances at the Another Simple Favor premiere and the TIME100 Gala, showing that while she is selective about her engagements, she is still participating in high-profile events, just on her terms.
The couple’s absence from the Met Gala highlights their ongoing strategy to navigate their personal and legal challenges with discretion, while still engaging with the public in more controlled settings.
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