Former workers at Justin Baldoni’s firm have accused him of performing “toxic positivity” and “evangelizing” his Bahai religion within the office.
The claims had been revealed on Wednesday by The Los Angeles Instances in a profile on the embattled “It Ends With Us” star, who additionally directed and produced the movie that’s on the coronary heart of his authorized battle with co-star Blake Vigorous over allegations of sexual harassment and defamation.
One one who labored at Baldoni’s manufacturing firm, Wayfarer Studios, informed the outlet that Baldoni’s shiny demeanor felt insincere.
“It was constant positivity all the time — I would say toxic positivity,” the ex-employee stated. “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.”
Nevertheless, different Wayfarer vets had optimistic impressions from their expertise on the firm.
“He is highly creative and in tune with his spiritual side,” Baldoni’s former private and govt assistant Melissa Ames informed the LA Instances. “He has a heart for helping others. Working at Wayfarer was one of the best times of my life.”
Earlier than the “It Ends With Us” scandal, Baldoni constructed a private model primarily based on self-betterment.
The actor co-founded the Skid Row Carnival of Love in 2014, an occasion aimed toward supporting the unhoused in Los Angeles. In 2021, he launched “Man Enough: Undefining My Masculinity,” a guide that challenges conventional concepts of masculinity and began a podcast below the identical title.
A spokesperson for Baldoni and Wayfarer responded to the allegations, telling The Put up, “There have never been any reported complaints regarding the workplace culture, or any communicated issues regarding the platforms of its founders.”
“If any guidance was ever provided to employees of 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.”
In the meantime, different former staff expressed discomfort with Baldoni and different executives allegedly pushing their Bahai religion into the office.
“There was an evangelizing aspect to the way Justin spoke about the faith that, in my opinion, felt professionally inappropriate,” one previous worker stated.
Born in nineteenth century Iran, the Bahai religion emphasizes racial and gender equality, social justice and world peace, with its central purpose outlined being to “unify mankind and coexist,” in response to Idaho State College Center Japanese research professor and Bahai Zackery M. Heern, who spoke with the LA Instances.
“Bahai values were a driving force behind everything they did,” claimed one other former staffer, who wasn’t as perturbed concerning the position religion performed at Wayfarer. “It came up routinely.”
Referring to Chicago billionaire Steve Sarowitz, a believer within the Bahai religion who owns a controlling stake in Wayfarer, the ex-employee additionally stated, “As a newer Baha’i member, Steve wanted to talk about it all the time.”
A spokesperson for Baldoni and Wayfarer confirmed to The Put up that the founders of Wayfarer Studios are Bahai however added that almost all of its senior management and employees are usually not and that no Bahai-related actions are ever mandated by the corporate.
“As all of Wayfarer’s projects are rooted in a belief system that stems from various faiths and backgrounds, speaking from a place of spirituality is commonplace,” the spokesperson informed The Put up. “Employees are encouraged to celebrate and practice their individual beliefs however they see fit, a message which is proudly supported by leadership.”
Baldoni has been within the highlight since he was sued by Vigorous in December. The “A Simple Favor” actress accused him of sexual harassment and orchestrating a public smear marketing campaign in opposition to her.
The “Jane the Virgin” alum has denied all of Vigorous’s accusations. In January, he countersued her and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, alleging defamation, extortion and extra — allegations their group denied.
