Blake Lively Joins Her ‘Genius Food Friends’ in the Kitchen as Lawyers Fight It Out

Blake Lively is finding comfort where she always has… in the kitchen.

Amid her ongoing legal dispute involving “It Ends With Us,” Blake Lively turned to baking with close friends to restore a sense of normalcy and joy.

The 37-year-old actress took to Instagram Stories on March 28, sharing a glimpse of her baking session with her talented foodie friends and their immensely large kitchen mixer. The photo displayed her latest sweet creation, accompanied by stickers that read “this is what my happy place looks like” and “TBD.”

For fans, this culinary rendezvous comes as no surprise. Lively, renowned for her passion for baking, once mentioned that her husband, Ryan Reynolds, playfully dubs their abode as “The Blakery” due to her frequent baking escapades for their family. The duo, parents to four children, have always bonded over their mutual adoration for food and family.

“Food plays a central role in my life,” remarked Lively. “Food and family are inseparable in my journey as food has been a fundamental part of my upbringing; my mom’s exceptional culinary skills have left a lasting impression on me.”

The actress once took to Instagram to share her macaroon skills, sharing, “I may not know how to make a macaron to save my life. But dang gurl, mama knows how to decorate them!!”

She said she took a macaron-making class in May 2018 at Ladurée in New York City. “(Give me a piping bag and some petals and my ego is unmanageable.)”

Lively also broke out her Betty Crocker Bake & Fill mold in June 2021 to create a watermelon cake that looked just like the real thing when sliced open.

But while Lively embraces the warmth of her kitchen, a storm continues to brew in court.

The “Gossip Girl” alum is in the middle of a bitter legal fight with “It Ends With Us” director and co-star Justin Baldoni, whom she accused of sexual harassment, fostering a toxic workplace, and attempting to smear her reputation. She filed the claims in a December 2024 lawsuit.

Baldoni has strongly denied the allegations and responded with a $400 million defamation countersuit against both Lively and Reynolds.

In early March, both Lively and Reynolds filed motions to dismiss Baldoni’s suit, with Lively’s legal team calling it “a profound abuse of the legal process.” Her attorneys further argued that the lawsuit “has no place in federal court” and pointed to California laws that shield individuals who speak out about harassment.

“This meritless and retaliatory lawsuit runs head first into three legal obstacles,” her legal team stated, referencing litigation, fair report, and sexual harassment privileges. They added that California’s mandatory fee-shifting provision could ultimately backfire on the plaintiffs behind the countersuit.

“In an epic self-own, the Wayfarer Parties’ attempt to sue Ms. Lively ‘into oblivion’ has only created more liability for them, and deservedly so,” the statement concluded.

No ruling has been made yet on the motions to dismiss, and with the case heading toward trial in May 2026, it’s likely that the legal wrangling will stretch on for some time.

According to 27-year-old Kaitlyn Cooper from Houston, the experience unfolded at the upscale Hotel 1928 in Waco, Texas, on Saturday, March 8. Cooper had been staying at the property with her mother when hotel staff allegedly mentioned that a “VIP guest” was on-site. That guest, Cooper would later learn, was “Gossip Girl” star Blake Lively, fresh off an appearance at the SXSW premiere of Another Simple Favor in Austin the day prior.

After a quiet dinner at the hotel’s restaurant, Cooper says she returned to the lobby in hopes of spotting Lively, and she did. She managed to record a brief video of the actress, though she insists she kept her distance and did not attempt to engage her directly. But what happened the next morning, according to Cooper, was what truly shocked her.

As she and her mother were outside loading their car to check out, Cooper claims Lively approached her. While Cooper has yet to publicly detail the full nature of the interaction, she characterized it as unexpected and unsettling.

The actress has yet to comment on the allegations. For now, Lively appears to be focusing on the things she can control, which includes quality time with family, her passion for food, and the occasional pie shared with good friends.