It looks like the legal drama between It Ends With Us co-stars Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni is hitting Baldoni the hardest.
On May 3, 2025, the Wayfarer Foundation, the charity Baldoni co-founded in 2021 with his partner Steve Sarowitz, announced on Instagram that it will be shutting down for good.
The Baha’i-inspired foundation, which served as the philanthropic arm of Wayfarer Studios, had a mission to “advance humankind spiritually towards a future peaceful world civilization”, according to its website.
Steve delivered the heartbreaking news in an official statement, writing on Instagram,
“I am so incredibly proud of the impact this organization has made and deeply grateful for our staff, board, donors and partners. Upon unanimous decision of the board of directors, today we will begin the process of sunsetting the Foundation. We will honor all of our current grant commitments as we carefully wind down operations…”
Sarowitz reassured supporters that the closure process will be handled with care, as he added in conclusion,
“We understand that this news may come as a surprise, and we will be actively working over the next several weeks to ensure all matters are concluded with care and attention”.
Inside Justin’s Explosive Legal Battle With Blake And Her Husband
The news of the foundation shutting down came amid the ongoing, messy legal battle between Lively and Baldoni.
The heated feud first began in December 2024, when the actress filed a lawsuit against him, his production company, and several others involved in the blockbuster film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s It Ends With Us, which was released in August 2024.
She accused them of sexual harassment and orchestrating a smear campaign to tarnish her reputation.
In January 2025, Justin Baldoni firmly denied the allegations and fired back with a $400 million defamation lawsuit against Blake, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and others, including their publicist Leslie Sloane and her PR firm, Vision PR, Inc., alleging civil extortion and defamation.
The case remains ongoing, with no final ruling yet. The trial is scheduled for March 9, 2026.
Just days earlier, on April 24, 2025, the Simple Favor star, recently named one of TIME Magazine’s 100 most influential people of the year, took the stage at the annual TIME100 Gala in New York City to deliver a deeply personal speech.
The Gossip Girl alum appeared to cryptically allude to her lawsuit and subtly take a jab at Justin, telling the crowd,
“Who and what we stand up for, and what we stay silent about, what we monetize versus what we actually live, matters… Our daughters… are not and will likely never be safe at work, at home, in a parking lot in a medical office, online, in any space they inhabit physically, emotionally, professionally… [But] never underestimate a woman’s ability to endure pain”.
Fans Express Their Sympathy For Baldoni Amid Foundation’s Closure
Fans flooded social media with heartfelt messages of sympathy and support for Justin as he faced this new setback. Several commenters even took aim at Lively and her husband, slamming them over the lawsuit against him. Some such comments read,
“A good man being torn down by something he did not do”.
“It’s ok, karma is on its way to Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds. TEAM JUSTIN!”
“Whatever happen to innocent until proven guilty? The man should have his day in court before career and reputation are ruined..”
“Justin, we see you and believe you! You will prevail!✊🏼🙏🏻”
As the closure of the Wayfarer Foundation adds to his mounting struggles, Justin Baldoni’s supporters remain unwavering, but the road ahead remains uncertain.