Justin Baldoni Hits Back At Claims His Good Deeds Are 'Phony' And That He Fostered A 'Toxic' Workplace

Yahoo

06-03-2025

Justin Baldoni is defending himself against former employees' allegations of hypocrisy and claims that he presided over a "toxic" workplace culture.
The actor has been in a legal standoff with his "It Ends With Us" co-star Blake Lively after she filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against him, which he responded to with a $400 million countersuit.
Ever since, Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively have been involved in a back-and-forth over the case, with the actress claiming in an amended complaint that her kids are "traumatized" by the legal drama.
Baldoni has been left fighting for his reputation after several allegations surfaced, claiming that his philanthropic efforts were nothing more than a charade.
In a Los Angeles Times feature, one of his former employees at Wayfarer Studios raised eyebrows at his charitable gestures, such as "filming himself giving clothing to a homeless man or asking employees to sign their emails with the phrase 'so much love.'"
"It was constant positivity all the time — I would say toxic positivity," the ex-Wayfarer employee said. "I'm always a little dubious of people who advertise themselves as disruptors of the status quo or quote-unquote 'good people.' It felt phony."
Some former colleagues spoke to his character, suggesting that the 41-year-old actor/director gives off a pattern of performative virtue and power plays that, in their view, conflicted with the ideals he professes to uphold.
"They keep talking about [the Baldoni-Lively battle] as David and Goliath, but that's just not my experience," said one former colleague, who preferred to remain anonymous for fear of being drawn into litigation.
The ex-colleague continued, "Justin has a lot of power and a lot of money, and he is not afraid to use them to get his way. We need allies, but we need allies whose personal and business dealings align with who they say they are."
Baldoni has now slammed the allegations that his charitable gestures are "phony" and that he fostered a "toxic" workplace environment.
In a statement shared with the Daily Mail, a rep for the "Jane The Virgin" star wrote, "There have never been any reported complaints regarding the workplace culture, or any communicated issues regarding the platforms or its founders."
"If any guidance was ever provided to employees on how to conduct their written correspondence, it was to ensure that the activities of its employees remained professional and aligned with the ethos of the company. Wayfarer believes that joy and positivity are the essence of good work, and they stand by this statement," Baldoni's spokesperson added.
The Los Angeles Times also claimed that former employees in Baldoni's company alleged they felt uncomfortable with the "increasing prominence of the Bahai faith in Wayfarer's office culture."
Other employees claimed that "Bahai principles were frequently invoked in discussions about the company's mission and projects" at the workplace, "particularly after Sarowitz became more involved."
A past employee noted, "There was an evangelizing aspect to the way Justin spoke about the faith that, in my opinion, felt professionally inappropriate."
Baldoni's rep seemingly distanced the actor from the claims that he was being unprofessional with his religion.
They told the Daily Mail that because all the company's "projects are rooted in a belief system that stems from various faiths and backgrounds, speaking from a place of spirituality is commonplace."
The rep added, "Employees are encouraged to celebrate and practice their individual beliefs however they see fit, a message which is proudly supported by leadership."
The reports come after a judge moved to dismiss the New York Times as a defendant in his lawsuit against Blake Lively.
The co-stars have been embroiled in a bitter, escalating legal battle after Lively accused Baldoni of sexual harassment and misconduct on the set of "It Ends With Us."
Baldoni denied the claims and filed a $250-million defamation suit against her and the New York Times, which published her allegations, before following up with a $400-million countersuit against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and their publicist, Leslie Sloane, accusing them of conspiring to destroy his reputation and usurp control of the film from him.
However, a judge on Tuesday suggested he may dismiss the news outlet as a defendant in the case.
U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman in Manhattan said the New York Times' February 28 motion to be excused from the case offered "substantial grounds for dismissal" and "a strong showing that its motion to dismiss is likely to succeed on the merits."