Lively sat at Wintour's table as a guest of 'Vogue' after "standing strong" on the carpet
Credit: Matt Baron/Shutterstock
NEED TO KNOW
- An exclusive source tells PEOPLE that Blake Lively appeared “strong, confident, fearless” during her 2026 return to the Met Gala
- The actress last attended the event in 2022, when she co-chaired
- Earlier on Monday, May 4, it was announced that Lively had settled her It Ends With Us lawsuit
Blake Lively appeared "fearless" during her Met Gala comeback.
The actress, 38, appeared at the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute's annual fashion event on Monday, May 4, where this year's theme was "Costume Art." She took the iconic Met steps in an archival Atelier Versace gown from spring 2006, accessorizing with custom Lorraine Schwartz jewelry.
An exclusive source tells PEOPLE that Lively appeared "strong, confident, fearless" on the red carpet, adding that she's "standing strong."
The source also shares that Lively was "chatting" with others at the event and "didn't avoid anybody or any conversations."
"She smiled, and she looked comfortable," they add.
Lively was an invited guest of Vogue at the Met Gala and was seated at Anna Wintour's table inside the event.
Credit: Mike Coppola/Getty
The star last attended the Met Gala in 2022, when she served as a co-chair alongside her husband, Ryan Reynolds. The event's theme was "In America: An Anthology of Fashion," serving as a part two to 2021's "A Lexicon of Fashion," with a dress code of "Gilded Glamour."
For her 10th Met Gala appearance, Lively wore an Atelier Versace gown, which featured a reversible train. After first arriving with Reynolds, who wore a velvet tuxedo and white bow tie, Lively had a quick fashion performance halfway up the Met steps when she flipped the train, revealing an aqua side that cascaded down behind her.
Ahead of the Met Gala on May 4, Lively's attorneys, Michael Gottlieb and Esra Hudson, announced in a joint statement with Justin Baldoni's Wayfarer Studios lawyers, Bryan Freedman and Ellyn Garofalo, that they'd reached a settlement in their legal battle. The case, which began in December 2024, was set to go to trial in two weeks, on May 18.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
"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," read the joint statement. "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. We remain firmly committed to workplaces free of improprieties and unproductive environments," continued the statement. "It is our sincere hope that this brings closure and allows all involved to move forward constructively and in peace, including a respectful environment online."
Read the full article here
