Blake Lively is breaking her silence following a major legal victory, and she's doing it with grace, gratitude, and a firm message of support for women everywhere.

The suit, filed by fellow actor and director Justin Baldoni, accused Lively of making false allegations of sexual harassment in an effort to destroy his career. However, according to U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman, Lively's statements were legally protected, and Baldoni's sweeping claims of defamation, extortion, and other allegations were ultimately dismissed.

Lively's legal team released a strong statement following the court's decision, calling the judge's opinion "a total victory and a complete vindication" for everyone named in the lawsuit.

"From day one, we said this '$400 million' lawsuit was a sham, and the Court saw right through it," her attorneys said in a statement to The Independent. "We now look forward to the next round, which is seeking attorneys' fees, treble damages, and punitive damages against Baldoni, Sarowitz, Nathan, and the other Wayfarer Parties who perpetrated this abusive litigation."

The It Ends With Us actress took to Instagram on Monday (June 9) to thank those who stood by her after a New York federal judge dismissed the lawsuit filed against her, her husband, Ryan Reynolds, their longtime publicist Leslie Sloane, and The New York Times. 

"Like so many others, I've felt the pain of a retaliatory lawsuit, including the manufactured shame that tries to break us," Lively wrote on her Instagram story. "While the suit against me was defeated, so many don't have the resources to fight back."

In her post, Lively didn't just celebrate the court's decision,  she also doubled down on her commitment to using her platform to advocate for women facing similar situations. 

"I'm more resolved than ever to continue to stand for every woman's right to have a voice in protecting themselves, including their safety, their integrity, their dignity, and their story," she wrote. "With love and gratitude for the many who stood by me. Many of you, I know. Many of you, I don't. But I will never stop appreciating or advocating for you."

The legal drama unfolded behind the scenes of It Ends With Us, the highly anticipated movie adaptation of Colleen Hoover's bestselling novel, which Lively and Baldoni both starred in. Lively played the lead role of Lily Bloom, while Baldoni portrayed Ryle Kincaid, Lily's abusive ex-partner.

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While the two were central to the film's story, they noticeably avoided each other during press events and red carpets, leading fans to speculate about an on-set rift. Rumors of tension boiled over in December 2024, when Lively filed a lawsuit alleging that Baldoni sexually harassed her and created a toxic work environment that caused her "severe emotional distress."

According to Lively's filing, she had nearly walked away from the film due to Baldoni's behavior. Her claims included being subjected to sexually inappropriate conversations, unwanted commentary about her appearance and weight, and even mentions of her late father. To continue with the project, Lively allegedly set strict boundaries, requesting "no more showing nude videos or images of women to Blake, no more mention of Baldoni's alleged previous' pornography addiction,' no further discussions about sexual conquests," and more.

She also claimed Baldoni and his PR team orchestrated a "smear campaign" to bury her career, including planting damaging fan backlash online.

While the legal battle is still unfolding, Lively's message to fans is clear –  she's not backing down. Her statement serves as a rallying cry for those who've felt silenced or powerless in the face of abuse, especially when fighting back comes with a price. 

Photo Credit: @blakelively on Instagram.