Megyn Kelly’s Criticism of Blake Lively

Megyn Kelly has been extremely vocal about Blake Lively’s inclusion on the TIME 100 list, telling The Hollywood Reporter that she believes it’s a ploy and that the actress is involved in what Kelly characterizes as a fake #MeToo situation. During the TIME100 Gala, Kelly continued her criticism, making several strong claims against Lively.

Speaking on the red carpet, Kelly bluntly stated that Lively is only here because she’s a celebrity and claimed She has no influence over anything. She launched a fake MeToo allegation… She’s lived to regret doing it because virtually every allegation she has made has fallen apart.

The Context of the Lively-Baldoni Dispute

To understand Kelly’s position, it’s important to look at the underlying dispute:

The controversy stems from the 2024 film It Ends With Us, which was directed by Justin Baldoni and starred Blake Lively. The film was commercially successful, grossing $351 million worldwide against a $25 million budget, but was plagued by reported disputes between Lively and Baldoni during production.

In December 2024, Lively sued Baldoni, accusing him of disturbing and unprofessional behavior on set, as well as orchestrating a retaliatory smear campaign. Baldoni has strongly denied these allegations and, in January 2025, filed a countersuit against Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds for defamation and extortion.

Since then, the legal battle has expanded, with Baldoni filing a $400 million defamation countersuit against Lively, her publicist, and Ryan Reynolds, as well as a separate $250 million libel lawsuit against The New York Times for its coverage of Lively’s accusations. All parties (Ryan, Blake, Sloane, and NYT have filed their Motions to Dismiss) that is likely to be granted on privileged grounds.

Is Kelly Exploiting the #MeToo Movement?

Back in January 2025, The Megyn Kelly Show obtained explosive new evidence: months of private text messages between Baldoni and his editors that offer a raw, unfiltered view of the escalating drama. The messages reveal that during post-production, Lively allegedly sought unprecedented control over the film’s editing — sidelining Baldoni and his team in ways they describe as chaotic and demoralizing.

Initially, Baldoni tried to accommodate Lively, texting his editors that it would be best “spiritually” to let her in on the editing process. But as the weeks wore on, frustration grew. “She’s been getting what she wants this entire movie,” Baldoni vented. Editors described Lively’s involvement as “all about control” and privately joked about forcing her to edit remotely to minimize her disruptions.

At one point, Sony allegedly barred Baldoni and his team from even viewing Lively’s final cut. “The director isn’t allowed to see the actress’s cut,” Baldoni texted incredulously. Editor #1 noted bitterly that while Lively’s version tested worse in previews, it still got pushed forward because of her influence.

The texts paint a picture of a director effectively pushed aside from his own project, culminating in Baldoni being relegated to a basement holding area during the movie’s premiere, isolated from Lively and the rest of the cast. In an emotional voice memo sent afterward, Baldoni told his editors: “We’re in this business because we are artists… and that’s what we did. That’s what you both did. And the truth will prevail.”

Meanwhile, during her speech at the TIME100 Gala, Lively sidestepped the controversy directly. She spoke instead about resilience and the importance of using influence wisely. She paid tribute to her mother, calling her a survivor of unspeakable violence, and emphasized the power of speaking out, even indirectly referencing the turmoil of the past two years without mentioning Baldoni by name.

TIME CEO Jessica Sibley struggled when asked about Lively’s inclusion, citing only that Lively was having a great year. Critics called it a tone-deaf justification that ignored the bitter legal battles and serious allegations swirling around her.

The night’s awkward undercurrents highlighted a broader unease within the entertainment industry. While Blake Lively appeared to bask in her new influential status, many questioned whether public accolades should be granted amid unresolved, highly public legal disputes.

Baldoni, for his part, continues to assert that the spirit of It Ends With Us — a film intended to spotlight survivor strength — remains intact despite the drama. The amount of women who feel seen, the men remembering their own traumas and having conversations with their partners… that’s why we did this. And it worked, he wrote to his editors.

With lawsuits pending, possible criminal inquiries into leaks, and reputations on the line, the real final act of this Hollywood saga has yet to be written.

There are several aspects to consider when analyzing whether Kelly’s approach is problematic:

1. Presumption of Falsehood: Kelly has publicly declared Lively’s accusations as “fake” before the legal process has concluded, claiming that Lively’s allegations have “fallen apart,” though the trial is not scheduled to begin until March 2026. This public denouncement of allegations before they’ve been fully examined in court could be seen as undermining the principle that accusations deserve fair consideration.
2. Public Platform Use: Kelly has used her public platform at the TIME100 Gala to attack Lively’s credibility, stating she wanted to get a selfie with Lively because she had “provided me with so many hours of content for The Megyn Kelly Show. This suggests Kelly may be using this controversy to generate content and attention for her own show.
3. Potential Chilling Effect: By publicly and harshly condemning someone who has made sexual harassment allegations before those allegations have been legally resolved, Kelly’s approach could potentially discourage others from coming forward with legitimate complaints out of fear of similar public backlash.
4. Conflict of Interest: It’s worth noting that Baldoni is being represented by famed media attorney Bryan Freedman, who is also identified as Megyn Kelly’s lawyer. This connection raises questions about Kelly’s objectivity in her criticism of Lively.

Conclusion

While Kelly claims to be defending the integrity of the #MeToo movement by calling out what she perceives as false allegations, her approach—declaring Lively’s claims false before the legal process has concluded, using harsh public condemnation at a high-profile event, and potentially having a professional connection to Baldoni’s legal representation—raises legitimate questions about whether she may be undermining the very principles of fair consideration that movements like #MeToo advocate for.

The TIME100 Gala incident reflects a complex intersection of celebrity, legal battles, and the ongoing societal conversation about how sexual harassment allegations should be addressed. The case remains unresolved legally, with the trial not scheduled until 2026, making definitive judgments about the validity of either side’s claims premature.