Speaking on the red carpet, Kelly told the Daily Mail, “It’s a ridiculous joke. She shouldn’t be here. She has no influence over anything.”
Kelly, 54, further accused Lively of making a “fake MeToo allegation” against her It Ends With Us co-star and director Justin Baldoni.
Speaking on the red carpet, Kelly told the Daily Mail, “It’s a ridiculous joke. She shouldn’t be here. She has no influence over anything.” Kelly, 54, further accused Lively of making a “fake MeToo allegation” against her It Ends With Us co-star and director Justin Baldoni.
“She’s lived to regret doing it because virtually every allegation she has made has fallen apart,” Kelly claimed. “To be honored for doing that, to try to ruin a man over absolutely nothing, is a scandal.”
The media personality also criticized Time magazine’s motives, suggesting the publication prioritized celebrity appeal over merit: “Obviously, [Time] is looking for big stars to come here and generate pages in their magazines, but that was very wrong.”
Despite her criticisms, Kelly joked that she hoped to get a photo with both Lively and Meghan Markle, calling them “great content providers” for The Megyn Kelly Show. “I have a feeling [Lively is] going to be avoiding me. I won’t be avoiding anybody. I’m good,” she added.
Blake Lively’s Recognition and Legal Controversy
Lively, 37, attended the gala in a glamorous off-the-shoulder Zuhair Murad gown, accompanied by her husband, Ryan Reynolds, and her mother, Elaine. Her selection as one of the year’s most influential figures was credited to her philanthropic work and political engagement, particularly her support for civil rights causes.
Civil rights attorney Sherrilyn Ifill praised Lively’s contributions, writing:
“She and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, reached out in 2019 to contribute to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund… Blake did her homework.”
However, Lively’s recognition has been met with backlash online, especially as she remains embroiled in a contentious legal case.
In December 2024, Lively filed a lawsuit accusing Baldoni, 41, of sexual harassment and conducting a smear campaign against her.
Baldoni has denied the allegations and retaliated with a $400 million defamation suit against Lively, Reynolds, and their longtime publicist, Leslie Sloane.
Their case is currently set to go to trial in March 2026.
Public Response and Social Media Backlash
Reactions to Lively’s Time100 recognition have been polarizing. Some social media users praised her activism, while others expressed outrage:
“Blake Lively is not ‘influential’—she’s a manipulative, conniving bully,” one critic posted.
“Only in Hollywood can being a liar land you on a ‘Most Influential’ list,” another wrote.
