Blake Lively stepped out in New York City with husband Ryan Reynolds and sister Robyn Lively on August 28, marking their first public appearance since a federal judge awarded the actress a fraction of the legal fees she sought from former co-star Justin Baldoni, according to reporting by the Daily Mail and InStyle.
The Legal Fee Ruling and Financial Disagreement
The outing followed an August 26 court order from Judge Lewis Liman regarding the legal fallout from Lively and Baldoni’s work on the film It Ends With Us. According to court documents cited by outlets, Lively had requested $7,495,526.87 in attorneys’ fees and $539,514.01 in litigation costs after she and Baldoni settled their legal battle out of court in May.
Judge Liman rejected the seven-figure request, calling the total an “outrageously unreasonable demand.” Instead, the judge ordered Baldoni to pay Lively $363,245.40 in attorneys’ fees and $44,206.35 in expenses. Lively’s attorneys, Esra Hudson and Michael Gottlieb, stated to Page Six that the case “was never about money – it was about accountability.” Conversely, Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, told the outlet that the ruling served as “a significant victory for my clients.”
Public Appearance in New York City
Two days after the financial ruling, Lively was photographed strolling through Manhattan. According to the Daily Mail, Lively wore brown overalls over a black tank top with loafers and gold jewelry. Reynolds wore a gray sweater with black pants and a newsboy cap, while Robyn Lively wore double denim. Robyn has frequently supported her sister on social media throughout the legal dispute, which began when Lively filed an initial complaint against Baldoni in December 2024.
Background of the Legal Battle
The legal conflict between the former co-stars involved multiple claims and countersuits, including a defamation lawsuit filed by Baldoni that was dismissed by Judge Liman in June 2025. Although 10 of Lively’s 13 claims were initially thrown out, leaving the case on a path toward a May trial, the two actors ultimately reached a settlement two weeks prior to the court date without exchanging financial payouts beyond the recent fee ruling.
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