Blake Lively Appears at Met Gala Hours After Settling Lawsuit with Justin Baldoni

Blake Lively made a high-profile appearance at the Met Gala hours after settling her lawsuit with Justin Baldoni.

The Gossip Girl star arrived at the fashion event shortly after announcing the legal settlement on Monday. She wore an archival 2006 Atelier Versace gown in soft watercolor tones and carried a purse adorned with artwork created by her four children. During Vogue's livestream, Lively explained the accessory. "My kids each painted a watercolor painting. Each of my four kids did this, so I have them with me, because I'm shy too, so I just like to have the kids with me," she said. "Isn't that special? I probably could have fit them under my dress, to be honest. I should have snuck them under there."

The pair had announced the end of their nearly two-year legal battle in a joint statement. They were set to face off in court on May 18. A federal judge, Lewis J. Liman, had allowed Lively's retaliation claims to proceed while dismissing most of her other allegations, including sexual harassment and defamation claims. The ruling narrowed the case to retaliation and a breach of contract claim.

Industry experts viewed Lively's appearance as strategic. "The move was more likely a calculated attempt to reclaim control of a narrative she had lost," one insider said. Doug Eldridge, founder of Achilles PR, told Fox News Digital that two things can be true: Lively is trying to take control of a narrative lost a year ago, and it was a calculated tactic to achieve that. "Lively attended, not just to ‘get her face in the place,’ but to send a subtle, unspoken message: I’m here because I won; the battle is over, and I am ready to reclaim my title and all the amenities that go along with it."

Kelcey Kintner, senior vice president at Red Banyan PR, said the timing sent a clear message that Lively is not hiding. "The Met Gala is probably the most Blake Lively place possible for her to make that point. She has always been a fashion favorite, so this was familiar territory for her. It was a way to remind people, ‘I’m still here, I still know how to own a red carpet, and I’m moving forward.'"

Steve Honig of The Honig Company, LLC, noted that perception matters. Some may see the appearance as overly staged, while others view it as confidence. He said Lively's credibility as a talented actress will help her transcend the controversy if she stays consistent and authentic.

Experts advised restraint. Kintner said Lively should let the dress, photos and appearance speak for now. "The more she explains, the more she risks pulling everyone back into the drama." Eldridge called the appearance brilliantly executed, shifting focus from Lively's character to her style after 18 months of scrutiny. He said she needs effort to rebuild her image from Mean Girl to Gossip Girl.

Kintner added that Lively has been famous a long time, and her brand in fashion, beauty and entertainment exceeds one lawsuit. "She does not need a dramatic reinvention. She just needs consistency, time and a little room to breathe."