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Justin Baldoni spent years cultivating a picture as a “nice guy” who was an ally to girls.
Though current occasions have referred to as his sincerity into query, he did put cash the place his mouth was.
Did, prior to now tense. The Wayfarer Foundation is shutting down.
It appears that his $400 million lawsuit in opposition to Blake Lively & Ryan Reynolds is costing an excessive amount of.
Justin Baldoni is spending lots on this authorized marketing campaign
According to a brand new report by TMZ, Justin Baldoni’s spending on his authorized battle in opposition to Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds has already value him an incredible amount of cash.
(Please bear in mind, this goes to trial in May of 2026)
Wayfarer Studios stills exists. However, as a result of monetary value of this courtroom marketing campaign, the studio’s charitable arm — The Wayfarer Foundation — has shut down.
It’s an actual disgrace, as a result of the now-defunct charitable basis was doing good work.
The basis labored in direction of felony justice reform, gender equality, LGBTQ rights, and selling numerous communities.
Those are all issues that the world wants — particularly proper now.
Unfortunately, plainly this authorized marketing campaign has change into the monetary precedence.
That’s not an finish to charity altogether, nonetheless
TMZ‘s report notes that Wayfarer Studios’ co-founder, billionaire Steve Sarowitz, has put over $100 million into the inspiration’s companions.
Additionally, he reportedly plans to ship one other $35 million within the coming yr and subsequent yr.
That is reassuring.
Even if he, in line with court docket paperwork, pledged to “ruin the lives” of Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds in the event that they went public with complaints about Baldoni, he nonetheless has the assets to do charity work.
Even so, it’s a disgrace that the Wayfarer Foundation is closing.
When a charity is tied to a public determine or enterprise, it will possibly generally be the primary on the chopping block when issues go south.
After a sure stage of notoriety, charity can change into troublesome even when there are many funds.
Noted Baldoni supporter Harvey Weinstein, for instance, made sizable contributions as a philanthropist for a few years.
Is there a PR angle?
Remember, lengthy earlier than anybody heard Lively’s allegations in opposition to Baldoni, the world witnessed a smear marketing campaign in opposition to her.
According to Lively, Baldoni was behind it — in an effort to preemptively discredit her accusations, if she ought to ever make them public.
Some might speculate that closing the Wayfarer Foundation amidst this lawsuit is an try and painting Lively as “causing” the shutdown.
That could also be a little bit of a stretch. Lively doesn’t make monetary choices for Wayfarer.