Sides are being chosen amid Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni‘s sexual harassment drama, with the actor losing so far. The It Ends With Us director and star found himself in a legal debacle thanks to his co-star’s allegations. The actress accused him of scathing crimes, from being inappropriate on set to running a smear campaign against her.
Lively’s claims sparked media outrage and had those who once supported Baldoni changing sides. The latest organization to ditch the Jane the Virgin actor is Vital Voices Global Partnership. The non-profit foundation, which invests in women who tackle the world’s challenges, honored the entertainer on December 9.
The organization gave him their Voices of Solidarity Award for advocating for women and girls. However, they took back the honor over Baldoni’s alleged “abhorrent behavior.” They broke the news in a statement on their website on Monday, implying that they believed Lively’s allegations. Vital Voices stressed that Baldoni’s actions did not align with their values or the spirit of the award. They concluded their message writing:
“We have notified Mr Baldoni that we have rescinded this award.”
Given their stance, the non-profit organization has joined the ever-growing list of Lively’s supporters. The Gossip Girl star’s advocates included America Ferrera, Amber Tamblyn, Alexis Bledel, and Amber Heard. These women have all issued messages on her behalf, standing in solidarity with her against Baldoni. Meanwhile, the director and his lawyer, Bryan Freedman, have vehemently denied the allegations, per TMZ.
Blake Lively’s Family Defend Her Lawsuit Against Justin Baldoni
Photo credit: Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency / MEGA TheMegaAgency.com
We recently covered that the actress had received the support of her loved ones, who defended her scathing allegations. This list included her sister, Robyn Lively, and her husband, Bart Johnson. Robyn addressed the drama on Instagram, highlighting a New York Times article. She urged fans to read it, claiming it contained proof of her sister’s innocence.
“It calls out those behind the ruthless and nefarious smear campaign that aimed to take down my sister,” she explained. Robyn implored fans not to succumb to media misconceptions, claiming they did not showcase a celebrity’s true self. Her words referenced the interview clips that painted Blake as “rude” and out of touch. The Teen Witch actress argued that her sister differed from how the media portrayed her, claiming,
“She is one of the kindest, most honest, and loving humans I know. Blake isn’t a villain. She’s a mama bear to her core, a loving and supportive wife, a sister, a friend, and someone who worked her ass off on a film in abominable working conditions.”
Robyn’s husband echoed similar sentiments in a comment underneath The New York Times’ Instagram post on Saturday, December 21. He stressed that the “public got played” by Baldoni’s PR scheme and Blake’s allegations against him were true. Johnson also argued that the It Ends With Us cast unfollowed the director for a reason.
Related: Blake Lively Gets Support From Her ‘Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants’ Co-stars Amid Lawsuit: They Are ‘Appaled’
Johnson first came to Blake’s defense months earlier after fans wondered why she and Baldoni promoted the movie separately. Many suspected she was the reason for the tension between them, but her brother-in-law hinted at a deeper problem. At the time, he wrote, “The truth hasn’t come out yet. It’s going to.”
As celebrities continue to pick sides in the ongoing drama, will anyone be willing to support Justin Baldoni?
The post Justin Baldoni Suffers Women Advocacy Award Fallout Amid Blake Lively’s Sexual Harassment Lawsuit: ‘We Have Rescinded This Award’ appeared first on The Nerd Stash.