Blake Lively’s Cryptic Instagram Post Sparks Curiosity Amid Heated Legal Battle with Justin Baldoni

Blake Lively is keeping her head high as her legal battle with It Ends with Us director and co-star Justin Baldoni continues to escalate. The actress, known for her roles in Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants and Gossip Girl, took to Instagram on April 7 to share a cryptic and seemingly hopeful message in the midst of the ongoing drama.

Posting an image of a tree branch adorned with water droplets, accompanied by the song “Little April Shower” from the 1942 animated movie Bambi, Lively included a quote: “It never hurts to keep looking for sunshine.” The quote, attributed to Winnie the Pooh’s Eeyore, was paired with an image of the iconic character. Lively also added the word “April” in animated letters, set against a backdrop of rain over a flower. The post, though poetic, carries an underlying message of resilience as Lively navigates the contentious legal dispute.

The legal saga began in December 2024 when Lively sued Baldoni, alleging sexual harassment during the production of the 2024 movie It Ends with Us, an adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s popular novel. Lively also claims that Baldoni and his team launched a retaliatory smear campaign against her after she raised concerns on set. Baldoni, however, has vehemently denied the accusations, countersuing Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and their public relations team for defamation and extortion.

The legal battle is far from over, with both lawsuits scheduled to go to trial in March 2026. Recently, Lively and Reynolds filed motions to dismiss Baldoni’s countersuit, calling it “frivolous” and citing a California law that protects individuals from retaliation after making public claims of sexual harassment. Baldoni’s legal team has opposed the motion, claiming that Lively’s attempt to dismiss the case was “abhorrent” and accusing Reynolds of being a “key player” in the alleged smear campaign.

While the legal disputes continue to heat up, Lively has continued to focus on her career. She recently shared moments from the SXSW Film Festival, where she promoted Another Simple Favor, the sequel to the 2018 thriller A Simple Favor, set to stream on Prime Video starting May 1. Additionally, she posted the trailer for Secrets of the Penguins, a National Geographic docuseries she narrates, which is set to premiere on April 20.

Legal experts, including Gregory Doll, a partner at Doll Amir & Eley, predict that a settlement is likely to occur before the trial date, but they also caution that the situation could become more contentious as time goes on. “It’s very nasty, and I think it’s going to get nastier,” Doll told PEOPLE in December.

As the case unfolds, Blake Lively’s social media posts hint at her commitment to staying optimistic and focused on brighter days ahead, despite the legal storm brewing in her personal and professional life.