The “Voice of Solidarity” award given to American filmmaker and actor Justin Baldoni has been revoked following legal action taken by actress Blake Lively over sexual harassment allegations. This decision was made by Vital Voices, an international NGO focused on empowering women. The award is typically given to men who contribute to the development and advancement of women. However, Lively filed a legal document accusing Baldoni of sexual harassment and abuse, leading to the withdrawal of the award at a ceremony in New York on December 9.
Lively, Baldoni’s co-actor, claims that Baldoni has been running a campaign to destroy her reputation and has tried to damage her image on social media. She further alleges that Baldoni intimidated her with threats to coerce her into certain conditions.
As these matters came to light, Baldoni faced heavy criticism, prompting Vital Voices to rescind the award. The organization stated, “The allegations against Baldoni go against our core values and the purpose of this award.”
Lively was allegedly harassed by Baldoni during the filming of It Ends With Us, where Baldoni was both the director and her co-actor. This incident has sparked a controversy in Hollywood. In response, several celebrities, including director Paul Feig and actress Amber Heard, have supported Lively, advocating for a respectful work environment and proper decorum from male colleagues.
Sony Pictures, the distributor of It Ends With Us, also issued a statement expressing their support for Lively after her legal action. They condemned the attempts to damage her reputation. Additionally, her co-star from the film, Brandon Sklenar, showed his support for Lively on Instagram.
As a result, Baldoni has been effectively vilified in the media, and his agency, WME, has also dropped him.