In a stunning reversal, the Vital Voices Global Partnership has stripped actor and director Justin Baldoni of a recently bestowed award honoring his advocacy for women and girls. The decision comes on the heels of a bombshell complaint filed by Blake Lively accusing Baldoni, her former co-star and director, of pervasive sexual harassment and a malicious smear campaign to tarnish her reputation.
The revocation of the Voices of Solidarity Award, granted to Baldoni mere weeks ago on December 9th, marks a dramatic fall from grace for the self-proclaimed feminist ally. Vital Voices, an international non-profit championing women’s empowerment, swiftly rescinded the honor upon learning of Baldoni’s alleged “abhorrent conduct” detailed in Lively’s legal filing, deeming it “contrary to the values of Vital Voices and the spirit of the Award”.
Disturbing Allegations Emerge
Lively’s complaint, submitted on December 21st, paints a harrowing picture of the hostile work environment she endured while filming the romantic drama It Ends With Us under Baldoni’s direction. The Gossip Girl star alleges that both Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios CEO Jamey Heath subjected her and other female cast members to “inappropriate misconduct” throughout the production process.
According to the legal documents, the situation deteriorated to such an extent that Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, were compelled to intervene. On January 4th, the power couple confronted Baldoni, Heath, and other producers with a list of demands to rectify the toxic atmosphere that had nearly sabotaged the entire project.
Demands for a Safe Set
The couple’s ultimatum included the immediate cessation of non-consensual, inappropriate personal discussions about sex initiated by Baldoni and Heath with Lively and her female colleagues. They also stipulated specific protocols for filming intimate scenes to ensure the comfort and safety of all involved parties. An agreement was reached to implement these measures moving forward.
Reputation Under Fire
However, Lively asserts that the harassment persisted even after the film wrapped, morphing into a concerted effort to smear her name in the media. Prior to the movie’s release, Baldoni and Heath allegedly enlisted a crisis PR expert to wage an offensive against the actress, seeding negative stories and amplifying criticism to depict her as “tone-deaf, difficult to work with, a bully.”
Blake’s ability to refuse to sit down and ‘be buried’ has been nothing short of inspiring.
– It Ends With Us author Colleen Hoover on Instagram
Baldoni has vehemently denied the claims via his attorney, dismissing them as “completely false, outrageous and intentionally salacious with an intent to publicly hurt and rehash a narrative in the media”. However, the court of public opinion appears to be siding with Lively, as key figures distance themselves from the embattled director.
Supporters Rally Behind Lively
WME, Baldoni’s talent agency, has dropped him as a client in light of the lawsuit. Colleen Hoover, the author of the novel on which the film is based, has also voiced her support for Lively on social media, applauding her courage in standing up to the alleged abuse.
The scandal marks a stunning downfall for Baldoni, who had carefully cultivated a reputation as a progressive male voice during the height of the #MeToo movement. His 2017 TED Talk challenging traditional masculinity and subsequent book on the topic had positioned him as a champion of gender equality.
A Hypocritical Facade Crumbles
As more details emerge, Baldoni’s actions paint the picture of a “feminist” whose public persona may have served as a troubling smokescreen for predatory behavior behind the scenes. While the truth remains to be adjudicated in a court of law, the staggering accusations lodged by Lively and the immediate backlash from former allies suggest a long and arduous battle ahead for Baldoni to salvage his now-tarnished image.
This developing story underscores the urgent, ongoing need to confront sexual misconduct and toxic power dynamics in Hollywood and beyond. As the reckoning catalyzed by the #MeToo movement continues to reverberate across industries, the consequences for those who abuse their influence and platform have never been more severe – or more necessary to protect the vulnerable and give voice to the silenced.
