Justin Baldoni dropped agency, has prestigious award revoked days after Blake Lively’s sexual harassment lawsuit; podcast co-host severs ties | Hollywood News

Days after being sued his It Ends With Us co-star Blake Lively for sexual harassment, actor- filmmaker Justin Baldoni lost a prestigious award he had received for “advocating on behalf of women and girls.”
On December 9, Baldoni was presented with the Voices of Solidarity Award from Vital Voices. The award honored “remarkable men who have shown courage and compassion in advocating on behalf of women and girls.” However, following the lawsuit filed Lively against Baldoni and his company, Wayfarer Studios, the organisation decided to revoke the award, citing Baldoni’s “durbing” and “abhorrent conduct.”

“The Voices of Solidarity Award honours remarkable men who have shown courage and compassion in advocating on behalf of women and girls. On December 9, 2024, we recognized Justin Baldoni with this award. On Saturday, December21, we learned through news reports about a lawsuit brought Blake Lively against Mr.Baldoni, his publics, and others that is durbing and alleges abhorrent conduct. The communications among Mr Baldoni and his publics 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 Baldoni that we have rescinded this award,” Vital Voices stated in a statement shared on their official Instagram account on Monday.
Lively has accused Baldoni of sexual harassment and orchestrating a smear campaign to damage her reputation. The two had worked together on It Ends With Us, but their professional relationship was reportedly strained throughout filming and promoting the film. The lawsuit includes text messages between Baldoni and his publics, where Baldoni allegedly instructs them to “bury” Lively, reported the BBC.
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Since the lawsuit became public, Lively has received strong support from the film industry. Sony Pictures, which dributed It Ends With Us, expressed its support for Lively in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter: “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 actor’s union, SAG-AFTRA, also offered its support to Lively. Additionally, Baldoni was dropped his agency, WME.

Meanwhile, Liz Plank, author and journal, is dancing herself from her podcast co-host, Baldoni, amid the serious allegations he faces from Lively.
“I’m writing to you today to let you know that I have had my representatives inform Wayfarer that I will no longer be co-hosting the Man Enough podcast,” Plank posted on Instgaram. “Thank you for trusting me with your hearts and stories, for holding space for mine, and for making this show what it was. I will miss you, the leners, so much. I love what this community created together with every fiber of my being, and that’s because of you.”
Launched in 2021, Man Enough “explores what it means to be a man today and how rigid gender roles have affected all people.” Plank co-hosted the podcast with Baldoni and Jamey Heath, CEO of Baldoni’s Wayfarer Studios.