Hasan Minhaj presented Justin Baldoni as an ally of women before the lawsuit

UPDATE 12/23 – 6:00 pm EST: Vital Voices, the organization behind the Vital Voices Solidarity Awards, has chosen to rescind an award recently awarded to Finish with us director Justin Baldoni amid his ongoing legal battle with animated blake.

“The Voices of Solidarity Award honors notable men who have shown courage and compassion in standing up for women and girls,” a statement shared via instagram on Monday, December 23, read. “On December 9, 2024, we recognized Justin Baldoni with this award. On Saturday, December 21, we learned through the news about a lawsuit filed by Blake Lively against Mr. Baldoni, his publicists and others that is disturbing and alleges abhorrent conduct. “The communications between Mr. Baldoni and his publicists in the lawsuit (and the public relations effort they indicate) are, by themselves, contrary to the values ​​of Vital Voices and the spirit of the Award.”

Vital Voices confirmed in the statement that they had “notified Mr. Baldoni that we have rescinded this award.”

Original story below:

Hasan Minhaj honored Justin Baldoni as an ally for women’s rights just a week before the news broke animated blakethe lawsuit against Finish with us director.

It seems like a moment between two men congratulating each other on being allies to women hasn’t aged well. Earlier this month, Baldoni, 40, was honored by Minhaj, 39, at the 2024 Voces Vitales Solidarity Awards which, according to the official websiteis an “awards program that honors outstanding men who have demonstrated courage and compassion in advocating for women and girls around the world.”

After the event, organized on December 9 by Vital Voices, a nonprofit organization, Baldoni wrote via instagram that he felt “deeply humbled and humbled” to receive the 2024 Vital Voices Solidarity Award “presented by my soul brother (Minhaj).”

Minhaj starred Finish with us as Marshall alongside Baldoni and Lively, 37.

“Thank you, brother, for using your brilliant mind to help challenge us all and make us laugh at the same time. “No one does it better,” Baldoni’s post continued. “Thank you for being a true friend and always being there, but most importantly, when the cameras are not rolling.”

Baldoni, who also hosts a podcast called “Man Enough” about modern masculinity and gender roles, went on to write that it was “difficult to accept an award when it is so evident that there is still a lot of work to be done.”

“My hope is that we can teach our children, while they are still young, that vulnerability is strength, sensitivity is a superpower, and empathy makes them powerful,” he continued. “That they should love and embrace their masculinity, that being a boy and a man is amazing and there is nothing to apologize for. And appreciate all the beautiful and complicated parts of them that make them human. “I believe with all my heart that once our children learn to be safe spaces for themselves, our world will finally be a safe space for everyone.”

On Friday, December 20, a week after Baldoni accepted this award, Lively presented a sexual harassment lawsuit against him with accusations that he had created a “hostile work environment” at the Finish with us set and caused the actress “severe emotional distress.”

According to the lawsuit, which was obtained by Us weekly after it was informed by TMZ and The New York TimesA meeting was held during the film’s production in January to address Lively’s claims against her co-star.

Lively’s demands for the meeting included “no more naked videos or images of women shown to Blake, no more mention of Baldoni’s alleged previous relationship.” ‘porn addiction’ No more discussions about sexual conquests in front of Blake and others, no more mentions of cast and crew’s genitals, no more questions about Blake’s weight, and no more mentions of Blake’s dead father.”

In a statement to UsBaldoni’s lawyer Bryan Freeman addressed Lively’s “completely false, outrageous, and intentionally lewd” allegations, alleging that she filed the lawsuit to “fix her negative reputation” and “repeat a narrative” about the film’s production. He alleged that Lively made “multiple demands and threats,” which included “threatening not to show up to set, threatening not to promote the film, and ultimately leading to her disappearance during the premiere, if her demands were not met.”

Additionally, the lawsuit claimed that Baldoni and his team had orchestrated a smear campaign against Lively to damage her reputation. Earlier this year, the actress was the subject of a social media storm surrounding the promotion of Finish with uswhen it was reported that she and Baldoni had clashed on set.

“There were two sides in the movie: Team Blake and Team Justin,” a source exclusively said Us in August. “This creative struggle set the tone for the negative experience behind the scenes and grew until they stopped talking.”

Minhaj, for his part, was asked about this alleged fight in a September with giftsaying that he “can’t speak to other people’s experience” on set, noting that “everyone was very professional and kind to me.”

He added: “It was lovely and everyone was lovely, and it’s just as disappointing for me, because I think: ‘What happened?’ Wait, what’s going on?’”

In a statement to The New York Times on Saturday, Lively, who has received support from several stars, including Finish with us author Carolina Hoover and producer Alex Saks– said: “I hope that my legal action will help lift the curtain on these sinister retaliation tactics to harm people who report misconduct and help protect others who may be targeted.” He denied spreading negative information about Baldoni.