The full reason Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds didn’t bother to go to the Met Gala this year

Up until recently, Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds were staples at the Met Gala. People would hotly anticipate their arrival to the event, and them being there would be a huge talking point.

But, you may have noticed Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds were a no-show at the 2025 Met Gala. It wasn’t an on-the-night surprise, as it’s been widely reported for months that the couple wouldn’t be there. But why?

In March, a source told Us Weekly Blake is “not a Kardashian that goes every year.” A further source told a similar story to People. They said: “Blake and Ryan haven’t gone since 2022, when they were co-chairs, and they will not be in attendance this year.”

So, not much has been said officially – but that hasn’t stopped people reading between the lines. Personal branding expert to the stars and founder of Ossai Agency, Phil Ossai, told The Tab his opinion.

via Matt Baron/Shutterstock

“While no official reason for them not being on the guest list has been confirmed, many fans are busy connecting the dots as to why,” he explained.

“First off, there’s an ongoing legal battle between Blake Lively and her It Ends With Us co-star Justin Baldoni. Right now, Blake may be choosing to lean on her close-knit support network and put high-profile public appearances on the back-burner.

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“There’s also been a wave of criticism over how Blake handled promoting It Ends With Us. Although the movie explores some sensitive themes, Blake encouraged viewers to ‘grab their friends and their florals’ for a fun cinema trip, a comment many felt downplayed the serious nature of the story.

“Adding to the controversy, Blake has faced backlash for comments that appeared to suggest she had a ‘working class’ upbringing.  However, it later surfaced that she had access to private schooling and was well-connected within the industry, which some felt was at odds with how she portrayed herself. Although most of the controversies surround Blake, Ryan is currently under the same unfavourable umbrella.”

The couple’s attendance at the event has been on and off over the years. They were last seen there in 2022, when they served as cohosts. They first went to the 2014 Met, and in one year, Blake went on her own.

The decision to skip this year’s gala comes amid Blake and Ryan’s ongoing legal battle with Justin Baldoni. After appearing alongside Baldoni in It Ends With Us, Blake accused him of sexual harassment on set and orchestrating a smear campaign against her. Baldoni has denied the allegations.

The following month, Baldoni filed a $400 million countersuit against Lively, Reynolds and Blake’s publicist. He accused them of defamation.

The trial between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni is set to take place next year.

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