A women’s solidarity award recently given to actor Justin Baldoni has been rescinded following allegations of sexual harassment and attempts to damage the reputation of his It Ends With Us co-star, Blake Lively.
Vital Voices, a global non-profit organization focused on empowering women, announced Monday evening that it had revoked the Voices of Solidarity Award, which Baldoni received on December 9 during a ceremony in New York. The organization said the decision followed legal claims filed by Lively, who accused Baldoni of “abhorrent conduct” and alleged that his team launched a campaign to “destroy” her public image.
Lively, best known for her role in Gossip Girl, filed a legal complaint accusing Baldoni and his studio of attacking her reputation after a meeting to address “repeated sexual harassment and other disturbing behavior” during the production of It Ends With Us. In the complaint, Lively outlined a list of 30 demands to address the alleged misconduct, including requests to avoid references to Baldoni’s “pornography addiction” and prevent the addition of unapproved intimate scenes in the script.
Vital Voices said in a statement that it had rescinded the award after determining that Baldoni’s conduct, as outlined in the legal complaint, was “contrary to the values” the organization stands for. The award, presented by comedian Hasan Minhaj, had been given to Baldoni in recognition of his efforts to advocate for women and girls.
In a statement, Baldoni’s legal team denied the allegations, calling them “categorically false.” They further claimed that Lively had threatened to derail the film unless her demands were met, leading Baldoni’s team to hire a crisis manager to address the situation.
Following the controversy, Baldoni’s podcast co-host, Liz Plank, announced she would be stepping down from The Man Enough podcast, which explores issues of masculinity, relationships, and mental health. Plank shared the news with listeners via Instagram, thanking them for their support while explaining her decision to leave the show.
Lively’s legal filing also accused Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios of orchestrating a “multi-tiered plan” to tarnish her image through a coordinated public relations campaign. The filing alleges that a “digital army” was employed to post misleading social media content aimed at damaging Lively’s reputation.
Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, responded to the accusations by accusing Lively of making numerous demands and threats that ultimately jeopardized the film’s release. Freedman argued that Lively’s claims were “intentionally salacious” and designed to damage Baldoni’s public image.
The dispute, which has sparked widespread media attention, continues to unfold as both sides prepare for further legal proceedings.