Actor and director Justin Baldoni has had his Voices of Solidarity Award rescinded after actor Blake Lively filed a complaint accusing him of sexual harassment and orchestrating efforts to damage her reputation.
The award, given by the Vital Voices Global Partnership on December 9, was meant to honor Baldoni for his "courage and compassion in advocating on behalf of women and girls." However, on December 23, the organization announced it was withdrawing the honor, stating that Baldoni’s alleged behavior, as outlined in Lively’s complaint, was “abhorrent” and “contrary to the values of Vital Voices.”
The complaint, filed by Lively on December 21, alleges that Baldoni, her director and co-star in the film It Ends With Us, sexually harassed her during production. It also accuses Baldoni of launching a "social manipulation" campaign aimed at tarnishing her reputation.
Baldoni, known for his role in Jane the Virgin and as co-owner of Wayfarer Studios—the production company behind It Ends With Us—is also accused of fostering a hostile work environment alongside Wayfarer CEO Jamey Heath.
The complaint states that Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, met with Baldoni, Heath, and other producers on January 4 to address concerns about the working conditions. The demands included halting inappropriate and non-consensual discussions about sex on set and implementing guidelines for filming intimate scenes. Despite agreeing to the changes, Baldoni and Heath allegedly later hired a crisis PR firm to launch a smear campaign against Lively.
According to the complaint, the PR effort resulted in widespread negative portrayals of Lively as "tone-deaf, difficult to work with, and a bully," which the New York Times noted had significantly impacted her public image.
Baldoni’s attorney has denied the claims, calling them "completely false, outrageous, and intentionally salacious." Meanwhile, Baldoni’s talent agency, WME, has severed ties with him in the wake of the allegations.
The author of the novel It Ends With Us, which inspired the film, publicly supported Lively, praising her resilience on Instagram: “Blake’s ability to refuse to sit down and ‘be buried’ has been nothing short of inspiring.”
Baldoni, who had previously positioned himself as a proponent of gender equality and challenged traditional notions of masculinity through his book and advocacy, now faces significant fallout. The allegations mark a sharp contrast to his public persona and raise questions about accountability within the entertainment industry.
Vital Voices' decision to revoke the award underscores the organization's commitment to its principles of supporting women and denouncing conduct that contradicts its mission.
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