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The Time100 gala in New York City became the stage for unexpected controversy when political commentator Megyn Kelly openly criticized Blake Lively's inclusion on the magazine's "Most Influential People" list. During Thursday's star-studded event at Jazz at Lincoln Center, Kelly didn't mince words when speaking to reporters.
"It's a ridiculous joke," Kelly declared on the red carpet. "She shouldn't be here. She has no influence over anything." The 54-year-old journalist further intensified her criticism by claiming Lively had "launched a fake MeToo allegation" against her "It Ends With Us" co-star and director, Justin Baldoni.
Kelly, known for her outspoken commentary, suggested Lively's allegations against Baldoni have proven baseless. "She's lived to regret doing it because virtually every allegation she has made has fallen apart," Kelly asserted. "For her to be honored for doing that, to try to ruin a man over absolutely nothing, is a scandal."
The political commentator suggested Time magazine had questionable motivations. "Obviously, [Time is] looking for big stars to come here and generate pages on their magazines, but that was very wrong," she stated while acknowledging her familiarity with sexual harassment issues from her own experiences at Fox News.
Kelly even joked about hoping to get a distant selfie with Lively and Meghan Markle since they both "provided [her] with so many hours of content" for "The Megyn Kelly Show." She quipped, "I have a feeling [Lively is] going to be avoiding me. I won't be avoiding anybody. I'm good."
Despite the criticism, Lively arrived in style wearing an off-the-shoulder Zuhair Murad gown. The 37-year-old "Gossip Girl" alum attended with her husband Ryan Reynolds, who had spoken at the Time100 Summit the previous day, and her mother Elaine.
Time magazine recognized Lively as a "philanthropist and a student of our country's most intractable problems." Civil rights lawyer Sherrilyn Ifill praised Lively in the magazine's profile, noting her genuine research before supporting causes. "I had been getting a few of these calls, as our work fighting against voter suppression and police brutality was receiving national attention," Ifill wrote.
When pressed about Lively's controversial inclusion, Time CEO Jessica Sibley offered a puzzling response, simply stating, "I think she's having a great year." She added that the magazine was "excited to tell her story" and aimed to be "the humanities guide to trust in journalism."
The gala featured several other A-list celebrities, including Scarlett Johansson in a black halter dress and Demi Moore in a cream-colored satin ensemble. Ed Sheeran lightened the mood in a striking pale pink suit paired with white Nike sneakers featuring pink Swoosh logos.
Lively is currently embroiled in a contentious legal battle with Baldoni, who has denied her harassment allegations and subsequently filed a $400 million defamation lawsuit against Lively, her publicist, and Reynolds, all of whom have denied his claims. Baldoni also filed a $250 million libel lawsuit against the New York Times for its reporting on Lively's allegations.
The confrontation between Kelly and Lively highlights the ongoing tensions surrounding the #MeToo movement and its complex impact on both accusers and the accused in Hollywood's evolving landscape of accountability.
