Liz Plank, a cohost on Justin Baldoni’s Man Enough podcast, has announced her departure from the show following allegations made by Blake Lively. Lively filed a legal complaint accusing Baldoni, the actor and director of It Ends With Us, of sexual harassment and orchestrating a smear campaign against her. In a social media post on Monday, Plank shared that she has informed Baldoni’s production company, Wayfarer, that she will no longer be cohosting the podcast. She expressed gratitude for the support and trust from listeners and emphasized her commitment to the values they have built together over the past four years.
While not directly addressing Lively’s allegations against Baldoni, which he has denied, Plank hinted at the importance of creating a better environment and supporting those who speak out against injustice. Her exit from the podcast comes in the midst of the controversy surrounding Lively’s complaint against Baldoni and Wayfarer CEO Jamey Heath. Plank, a journalist and author, had been hosting Man Enough since its inception in 2021, exploring modern masculinity and gender roles.
Entertainment Weekly has reached out to Baldoni and Wayfarer for comments on Plank’s departure. The recent developments stem from Lively’s complaint regarding alleged sexual harassment by Baldoni on the set of It Ends With Us, where he starred alongside Lively and Heath served as a producer. Lively’s complaint includes accusations of inappropriate behavior, unwanted advances, and a smear campaign against her orchestrated by Baldoni and Heath.
As the situation continues to unfold, Plank expressed her appreciation for the community that had formed around the podcast and promised to share more updates as she processes the events. The podcast, focusing on redefining masculinity and gender norms, will move forward with new hosts following Plank’s departure.
The complaint alleges that the accusations made by actress Blake Lively against actor and producer Justin Baldoni have the potential to completely undermine his carefully cultivated public image as a supporter of feminist causes. In response to the allegations, attorney Bryan Freedman, representing Baldoni and his production company, has vehemently denied Lively’s claims, stating that they are “categorically false.” Freedman further defended Baldoni’s crisis PR firm, TAG PR, stating that the firm operated in a manner consistent with standard crisis management practices when hired by a client facing threats from two influential individuals with considerable resources.
Freedman emphasized that the crisis PR firm’s usual scenario planning was deemed unnecessary in this situation, attributing this decision to what he described as Lively’s own distasteful approach during her press tour. Additionally, Freedman criticized the New York Times for what he perceived as enabling Lively’s questionable PR tactics by publishing leaked personal text exchanges that he argued lacked crucial context. He insinuated that the leaked exchanges were utilized by Lively in a manner consistent with the tactics she has accused the PR firm of employing.
The statement provided by Freedman to Entertainment Weekly on Monday suggests an ongoing legal and public relations battle between the involved parties. The allegations and counterclaims put forth by both Lively and Baldoni, as well as their respective representatives, highlight the complex nature of managing public image in the entertainment industry. The legal and ethical implications of the situation remain to be determined as the dispute continues to unfold.
The original article can be found on Entertainment Weekly for further details on this developing story.
