Justin Baldoni’s woman advocacy award revoked after Blake Lively’s sexual harassment lawsuit

Actor-director Justin Baldoni has lost the prestigious Voices of Solidarity Award from Vital Voices following a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by his It Ends With Us co-star Blake Lively. The award, which was presented to Baldoni on December 9, recognised "remarkable men who have shown courage and compassion in advocating on behalf of women and girls." However, just days after the lawsuit became public, Vital Voices rescinded the honour, citing Baldoni’s conduct as "disturbing" and "abhorrent."

Vital Voices Responds to Allegations

On December 11, Vital Voices issued a statement explaining their decision to revoke the award. The non-profit organisation, which focuses on empowering women and advocating for gender equality, stated that the communications between Baldoni and his publicists, which are part of Lively's lawsuit, were "contrary to the values" of the organisation. In an Instagram post, Vital Voices wrote, "The communications among Mr. Baldoni and his publicists included in the lawsuit — and the PR effort they indicate — are, alone, contrary to the values of Vital Voices and the spirit of the Award. We have notified Mr. Baldoni that we have rescinded this award."

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Blake Lively’s Allegations

Blake Lively filed a legal complaint against Baldoni, accusing him of sexual harassment and leading a coordinated smear campaign to destroy her public image. The two actors worked together on the romantic drama It Ends With Us, where Lively plays a woman in a troubled relationship with Baldoni’s character. According to Lively, the professional relationship between the two was strained due to Baldoni’s alleged behaviour.

In her lawsuit, Lively claims that Baldoni and his team engaged in a “multi-tiered plan” to damage her reputation, including hiring a crisis management team and using social media to launch an attack. The lawsuit includes text messages between Baldoni and his publicists, in which Baldoni allegedly instructed them to “bury” Lively. Lively has also accused Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios, of a "sophisticated, coordinated, and well-financed retaliation plan" that used a "digital army" to post content that appeared authentic.

Legal Dispute and Public Support for Lively

In response to Lively’s accusations, Baldoni’s legal team has denied the allegations, calling them "categorically false." Bryan Freedman, Baldoni's lawyer, stated that Lively had made multiple demands during the production of the film, including requests related to the content of the script and threats of not promoting the movie. Freedman said, “Lively threatened to not show up to set, threatening to not promote the film, which would ultimately lead to its demise during release if her demands were not met.”

While Baldoni’s legal team denies the claims, Lively has received significant support from the entertainment industry. Sony Pictures, which distributed It Ends With Us, publicly expressed its backing for Lively, stating, “We have previously expressed our support for Blake in connection with her work on and for the film. We fully and firmly reiterate that support today. Further, we strongly condemn any reputational attacks on her. Any such attacks have no place in our business or in a civil society.” The Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) also voiced support for Lively, further highlighting the solidarity she has received from her peers.

Meanwhile, Baldoni has been dropped by his agency, WME, following the controversy.

Baldoni’s Award and Public Reaction

Baldoni was awarded the Voices of Solidarity Award at a ceremony in New York on December 9, which was presented by comedian Hasan Minhaj. The award recognised Baldoni for his work advocating for women and girls. Following the award, Baldoni shared his gratitude on Instagram, stating that he was "deeply honoured and humbled" to receive the award. He also emphasised the need to teach future generations of men about vulnerability, sensitivity, and empathy, saying, “My hope is that we can teach our boys, while they are still young, that vulnerability is strength, sensitivity is a superpower, and empathy makes them powerful."

Despite the award being revoked, Baldoni had publicly expressed his commitment to empowering women and girls, particularly through his involvement with the non-profit organisation. However, the legal dispute with Lively has now overshadowed his advocacy efforts.

The legal complaint filed by Lively alleges that Baldoni and a producer on the film engaged in repeated sexual harassment, which prompted a series of demands from Lively to ensure her safety and professionalism on set. These demands included requests to limit discussions of Baldoni's alleged "pornography addiction" and other sensitive topics, as well as ensuring that no intimate scenes were included in the film unless pre-approved by Lively.

The lawsuit also highlights the difficult working conditions on the film and the strained professional relationship between the two actors. Lively’s legal team claims that Baldoni's actions and the subsequent PR campaign were designed to undermine her reputation and damage her career.

The ongoing legal battle between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni brings attention to issues of sexual harassment and retaliation in the entertainment industry. While Baldoni has been publicly recognised for his advocacy for women, the serious allegations against him have led to the revocation of a prestigious award, as well as widespread industry backlash. The case continues to unfold, with further legal proceedings likely to clarify the details of the accusations.