Blake Lively TIME100 speech captivated audiences at the star-studded gala hosted at Jazz at Lincoln Center in NYC on Thursday, April 24. Honored as one of TIME’s 100 most influential individuals, the 37-year-old actress spoke for nearly six minutes, delivering a heartfelt message about resilience, voice, and the quiet strength of women — all while subtly nodding to her current legal dispute with It Ends With Us director Justin Baldoni.
In her moving address, Lively called the honor “surreal and deeply meaningful” in a world where outrage often dominates. She described it as an act of resistance to celebrate positivity. “Being called influential carries weight,” she said. “What we support, what we ignore, what we monetize, and how we truly live — all of that matters.”
Blake Lively TIME100 speech Highlights Women’s Strength
While Lively didn’t directly reference her legal ordeal, she hinted at the emotional toll of the past two years, saying, “Tonight is not the forum” but expressing her desire to speak more fully in the future. Instead, she turned the spotlight on the enduring power of women’s voices — especially that of her mother, Willie Elaine McAlpin, whom she described as a survivor of a horrific crime.
Her mother, a victim of a violent attack by a former coworker, credited another woman’s story on the radio with giving her the strength to survive. “That woman, whose name my mom will never know, saved her life,” Lively shared. “That’s the pact of womanhood — we quietly teach each other how to survive.”
Blake Lively TIME100 speech Touches on Justice and Silence
Lively also reflected on the harsh realities many women face in daily life, from unsafe workplaces to digital harassment. She shared the unspoken heartbreak of telling young girls that the world may never truly feel safe, despite the fairy tales we tell them. Still, she framed the ability to endure — and triumph — as a powerful right, saying, “Never underestimate a woman’s capacity to withstand pain.”
She closed by honoring supportive men, including her husband Ryan Reynolds, and extended her gratitude to all people fighting for safety and dignity across different walks of life.
Lively’s remarks subtly mirror the broader context of her legal conflict with Baldoni, which began in late 2024 when she filed a lawsuit accusing him of harassment and retaliation. Baldoni has denied the claims and countered with a $400 million defamation suit. The court date is set for March 2026.
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Source: www.people.com
