Blake Lively’s Surprising Reaction to Time 100 Inclusion Amid Toxic Scandal

This title retains the core elements—her unexpected response, the Time 100 recognition, and the context of the scandal—while streamlining phrasing for clarity and conciseness.

Blake Lively Celebrates Time 100 Honor Amid Legal Battles
(Including Images)

[Image: Blake Lively at a red carpet event, caption: "Blake Lively acknowledged her Time 100 honor despite ongoing controversies."]

Blake Lively, 37, expressed gratitude after being named to Time’s 2025 100 Most Influential People list, calling it a “surreal and meaningful” achievement. The recognition comes amid a tumultuous year marked by a legal feud with It Ends With Us director Justin Baldoni and rumors of tension with co-star Anna Kendrick.

Philanthropy and Praise from Sherrilyn Ifill
Lively was highlighted in the “Titans” category alongside figures like Serena Williams and Mark Zuckerberg. Civil rights attorney Sherrilyn Ifill, former NAACP Legal Defense Fund president, penned a tribute praising Lively’s philanthropy. In 2019, Lively and husband Ryan Reynolds donated $1 million to the organization, which Ifill noted was preceded by “homework” on systemic issues.

[Image: Lively and Reynolds at an event, caption: "The couple donated $1 million to the NAACP in 2019."]

Lively responded, “Her work has shaped our nation… Thank you for one of the most surreal moments of my life.” Ifill emphasized Lively’s dedication to “moving this country forward,” despite past criticism over the couple’s 2012 plantation wedding, for which Reynolds later apologized.

Legal Battle with Justin Baldoni
The accolade contrasts with Lively’s ongoing lawsuit against Baldoni, who she accuses of sexual harassment and creating a toxic work environment on It Ends With Us. Baldoni denies the claims and filed a $400M defamation countersuit, alleging Lively conspired to sabotage his career and seize creative control.

[Image: Baldoni on set, caption: "Justin Baldoni denies Lively’s allegations, calling them retaliatory."]

Storyboard artist Talia Spencer defended Baldoni in a 60 Minutes Australia interview, suggesting Lively “mistook his kindness for weakness” and compromised his vision. Spencer stated, “I find it hard to believe the allegations,” citing Baldoni’s professionalism.

Claims and Counterclaims
Lively’s legal team accused Baldoni of using the “abuser playbook,” claiming his lawsuit is retaliation. They argue Sony entrusted her with overseeing the film’s final cut, which became a “resounding success.” Baldoni’s suit alleges Lively initially resisted reading the source material and later sidelined him at the premiere, relegating him to a basement holding area.

[Image: Lively on the It Ends With Us set, caption: "Lively’s team claims she improved the film’s production."]

The dispute escalated with Baldoni suing The New York Times for $250M over a December 2024 article he claims favored Lively’s “self-serving narrative.” Texts between his publicists, cited in the piece, allegedly misrepresented efforts to manage fallout from the allegations.

Ongoing Fallout
As both parties await legal resolutions, Lively’s inclusion on the Time list underscores her enduring influence. Meanwhile, Baldoni maintains his focus on career recovery, previously praising Lively’s creativity in interviews. The case highlights Hollywood’s complex power dynamics, with fans and industry watchers closely tracking developments.

[Image: Lively at the It Ends With Us premiere, caption: "The film’s success is overshadowed by legal tensions."]

Word count: ~600