When did Justin Baldoni receive 'Voices of Solidarity' award? Honor rescinded following Blake Lively's lawsuit against the actor
Justin Baldoni's Voices of Solidarity Award has been rescinded after Blake Lively's s*xual harassment lawsuit. The organization, Vital Voices, announced their decision in a statement shared on Instagram on Monday, December 23, 2024, saying:
"On Saturday, December 21, we learned through news reports about a lawsuit brought by Blake Lively against Mr. Baldoni, his publicists, and others that is disturbing and alleges abhorrent conduct."
According to the statement, they honored Baldoni with Voices of Solidarity on December 9, 2024. Highlighting that the honor is given to "remarkable men who have shown courage and compassion in advocating on behalf of women and girls," the organization continued:
"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."
Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively starred in the film It Ends With Us. Lively's lawsuit claims Baldoni, who directed the movie, launched a smear campaign against her after she accused him of s*xual harassment on set.
Blake Lively claimed Justin Baldoni hired Melissa Nathan, a crisis PR expert, to smear her name during the film's press tour
It Ends With Us is a drama centered around Lily Bloom, a florist who ends up in an abusive relationship. The film was a box office hit but has been surrounded by controversy. During its press tour, there were rumors of friction between Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively, with them promoting the film separately.
Around that time, Lively faced criticism for promoting the film as a light-hearted story and downplaying the narrative about domestic violence. She also faced backlash for using the media coverage to promote her hair care line and drink.
Lively's lawsuit alleged that the actress reported Justin Baldoni's behavior and "hostile work environment that had nearly derailed production of the film" to the film's producer. This included showing her explicit photos and videos, discussing his s*xual habits, asking about her personal life, and even adding intimate scenes not originally in the script.
In response, Justin Baldoni's Wayfarer Studios promised to add safeguards on set, adding she wouldn't face retaliation for speaking up. However, Baldoni allegedly hired a crisis PR expert, Melissa Nathan, and her company, The Agency Group PR (Johnny Depp hired her during his trial with Amber Heard). They allegedly launched a smear campaign against the actress during its press tour.
The lawsuit claimed that Lively has suffered "grief, fear, trauma, and extreme anxiety" as a result. It alleged that her husband, Ryan Reynolds, and their children were impacted as well. Further, the complaint noted that Lively reportedly missed out on several career opportunities, including hosting the Saturday Night Live season premiere.
Justin Baldoni's lawyer, Bryan Freedman, has refuted the claims, calling the lawsuit "shameful" and "categorically false."
However, several others have spoken in support of Blake Lively, including Amber Heard, who told NBC News on Monday, December 23, 2024:
"Social media is the absolute personification of the classic saying 'A lie travels halfway around the world before truth can get its boots on. I saw this firsthand and up close. It's as horrifying as it is destructive."
Colleen Hoover, who wrote the book on which It Ends With Us was based, too, expressed her support, calling Lively "honest, kind, supportive, and patient." Lively's Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants co-stars, America Ferrera, Amber Tamblyn, and Alexis Bledel, shared a joint statement calling out the hypocrisy in making a movie about domestic violence but silencing Lively for speaking up.
Justin Baldoni has not publicly reacted to the development.
