Lively Shade Speculation
Emily Baldoni's anniversary caption sparks Blake Lively 'shade' speculation following past legal dispute
Anonymous
Key Points
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Lively's December 2024 sexual harassment complaint against Justin Baldoni included allegations of a retaliatory public smear campaign, and those claims were dismissed as part of a settlement reached in May.
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Justin and Emily Baldoni were married in July 2013 and have two children, Maiya Grace (born 2015) and Maxwell Roland-Samuel (born 2017).
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Justin Baldoni’s anniversary post included a light-hearted moment about their history, with him writing, ‘13 years later… we’re still dancing,’ and Emily sharing a photo with the caption, ‘Marriage: still my favorite lift,’ including a joke about pants ripping open.
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In a July 8 Instagram video, the Baldonis spoke about healing after the settlement, with Justin saying, ‘healing isn’t linear’ and emphasizing that family, friends, community, and faith are central to their recovery.
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Coverage also notes the broader context of ongoing public- relations dynamics, including references to roughly 18 months of PR mudslinging and a $400 million defamation lawsuit tied to the Lively-Baldoni dispute before their more recent settlement and subsequent statements.
Emily Baldoni marked her 13th wedding anniversary on July 27 with a black-and-white photo and a caption that set social media buzzing. She wrote, 'Marriage: still my favorite lift,' along with a joke about her husband's pants ripping — and fans immediately read it as a jab at Blake Lively, according to TMZ and Daily Mail.
The caption landed in the middle of an ongoing public dispute between the Baldonis and Lively. Lively had accused Justin Baldoni of making weight-related comments tied to a scene in 'It Ends With Us.' Those claims were later dismissed as part of a settlement reached in May.
Why 'Still My Favorite Lift' Reads as Shade
In her lawsuit, Lively alleged that Justin Baldoni made remarks about her weight in connection with a lifting scene he was set to perform in 'It Ends With Us.' Emily's anniversary caption — centered on a wedding lift — struck many followers as a pointed callback to that allegation, according to Daily Mail.
Perez Hilton and VT both covered fan reactions calling the post deliberate shade. The photo showed Justin lifting Emily at their July 2013 ceremony. The pants-ripping joke added a playful tone, but that did little to quiet speculation online.
Justin's Post and a Shared Show of Unity
Justin Baldoni also posted for the anniversary. He wrote, '13 years later… we're still dancing,' according to TMZ. The couple married in July 2013 and have two children: Maiya Grace, born in 2015, and Maxwell Roland-Samuel, born in 2017.
The dual posts came just weeks after a joint Instagram video on July 8. In that video, Justin said, 'healing isn't linear,' and both spoke about leaning on family, friends, community, and faith to recover from the fallout of the legal battle, according to Daily Mail.
The Lively-Baldoni Dispute: A Quick Timeline
The conflict started in December 2024 when Lively filed a sexual harassment complaint against Justin Baldoni. She also alleged he ran a retaliatory public smear campaign against her. The dispute grew into a $400 million defamation lawsuit, according to TMZ.
After roughly 18 months of what coverage described as PR mudslinging, the two sides reached a settlement in May. Lively's claims — including those about the smear campaign — were dismissed as part of that deal, according to Daily Mail.
Fans Keep the Narrative Alive Online
Even with a settlement in place, the anniversary posts reignited public interest. Perez Hilton declared Emily had 'shaded' Lively outright. VT noted the Baldonis celebrated publicly for the first time since the legal drama peaked.
Emily has not confirmed the caption was meant as a dig at Lively. But in the court of social media, the jury already ruled. The couple's effort to move forward publicly is, so far, being filtered through the lens of a dispute they say they want to leave behind.
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