Justin Baldoni, the actor and director at the center of a high-profile legal battle with Blake Lively, is facing fresh scrutiny over workplace culture at his production company, Wayfarer Studios. Former employees have come forward alleging that Baldoni fostered an environment of "toxic positivity" and pushed his Baháʼí faith in a way that felt professionally inappropriate.
"It was constant positivity all the time - I would say toxic positivity," an ex-employee told The Los Angeles Times. "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."
Another former staffer expressed discomfort with the role of faith at the company. "There was an evangelizing aspect to the way Justin spoke about the faith that, in my opinion, felt professionally inappropriate," the employee stated.
Baldoni, 41, co-founded Wayfarer Studios with billionaire investor Steve Sarowitz, a fellow member of the Baháʼí faith. While the company has been known for projects that align with social justice themes, some employees claim that faith was frequently brought up in the workplace.
"Baháʼí values were a driving force behind everything they did," another ex-employee noted. "It came up routinely."
In response to the allegations, a spokesperson for Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios denied any misconduct, telling The New York Post, "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," the statement continued. "Wayfarer believes that joy and positivity are the essence of good work, and they stand by this statement."
Not all employees shared negative experiences. Baldoni's former assistant, Melissa Ames, praised his leadership, saying, "He is highly creative and in tune with his spiritual side. He has a heart for helping others. Working at Wayfarer was one of the best times of my life."
The accusations emerge as Baldoni remains entangled in a lawsuit with Blake Lively, who accused him of sexual harassment and launching a smear campaign against her after working together on the 2024 film It Ends With Us. Baldoni has denied all allegations and countersued Lively and her husband, actor Ryan Reynolds, alleging defamation and extortion.
