Blake Lively's first appearance after lawsuit sparks online backlash

Blake Lively brought vintage Chanel glamour to New York City, but her latest night out quickly became a talking point for reasons beyond her outfit.

The Gossip Girl star attended jewelry designer Brent Neale’s holiday capsule collection launch on November 3, marking what appeared to be her first official event since parting ways with longtime publicist Leslie Sloane in September.

Lively wore a navy sequin mini dress from Chanel’s Fall/Winter 1994 collection and attended alongside friends. 

The actress has supported Neale’s designs before, even wearing the jeweler’s pieces in her 2024 film It Ends With Us.

Photos from the evening spread across social media, where reactions were decidedly mixed. 

Some fans couldn't get enough of her look, with one writing, "She is beautiful." Another admitted, "Have to admit – she's gorgeous… really stunning outfit."

But others weren't convinced the appearance was simply a casual night out. 

One critic questioned the timing, commenting, "Does anybody fall for these overused PR stunts anymore? What's the point?" Another added, "Her new PR need to put in some hours."

The group accompanying Lively also became a target of online commentary, with users asking, "What friends?" and "Didn't realize she had any friends."

Some commenters also brought up her ongoing legal dispute with Justin Baldoni, adding another layer to the social media debate. However, there is no evidence that the event was arranged as a publicity stunt.

Neither Lively nor her representatives have addressed the speculation.

For now, her vintage dress may have won fashion points, but the internet clearly had plenty more to discuss.