Justin Baldoni’s former employees have shared mixed experiences about working at his production company, Wayfarer Studios, which he co-founded with Steve Sarowitz.

In a new Los Angeles Times feature, one former staffer questioned the It Ends with Us director’s motives when it came to his charitable gestures, such as ‘filming himself giving clothing to a homeless man or asking employees to sign their emails with the phrase “so much love.”‘ 

Back in 2015, Baldoni and Wayfarer started hosting the Skid Row Carnival of Love, an annual event in Los Angeles that provides resources and support to thousands of people experiencing homelessness. 

Over the years, Baldoni has also grown out his hair to donate to the charity, Locks of Love, and worked hard to challenge traditional toxic male stereotypes. 

‘It was constant positivity all the time — I would say toxic positivity,’ the ex-Wayfarer employee said. ‘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.’ 

In response to criticism of Baldoni and Wayfarer’s acts of kindness and good deeds, the Jane the Virgin star’s rep told DailyMail.com in a statement: ‘There have never been any reported complaints regarding the workplace culture, or any communicated issues regarding the platforms or its founders.’

Justin Baldoni ‘s former employees have shared mixed experiences about working at his production company, Wayfarer Studios, which he co-founded with Steve Sarowitz

‘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,’ Baldoni’s spokesperson continued. 

The Los Angeles Times also claims that multiple employees alleged they felt uncomfortable with the ‘increasing prominence of the Bahai faith in Wayfarer’s office culture.’

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One past employee claimed: ‘There was an evangelizing aspect to the way Justin spoke about the faith that, in my opinion, felt professionally inappropriate.’ 

The outlet stated that others said ‘Bahai principles were frequently invoked in discussions about the company’s mission and projects’ at the workplace ‘particularly after Sarowitz became more involved.’ 

Despite the allegations, the majority of its senior leadership and staff do not practice the spiritual teachings of the Bahá’í Faith, which originated in Iran in the 19th century. 

A spokesperson for Baldoni told DailyMail.com in a statement: ‘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.’ 

‘Employees are encouraged to celebrate and practice their individual beliefs however they see fit, a message which is proudly supported by leadership,’ his rep added. 

Two former staffers also expressed unease with ‘Baldoni’s repeated focus on stories of terminal illness.’ 

In a new Los Angeles Times feature, one former staffer questioned the It Ends with Us director’s motives when it came to his charitable gestures, such as ‘filming himself giving clothing to a homeless man or asking employees to sign their emails with the phrase “so much love”‘ (pictured in 2023)

This includes the 2015 documentary, The Simpsons, about Sam Simon, who donated his entire $100 million fortune to charity before he died from colon cancer in 2015. 

One of the former Wayfarer staffer said: ‘The message was always, “These people are dying and they still have a positive outlook, so everyone has a reason to be positive.”‘ 

‘But, you know, you’re also making money off these people, so it feels at least slightly exploitative,’ they stated. 

In regards to the claims, Baldoni’s spokesperson told DailyMail.com: ‘It is a shame that anyone would criticize the platform that Mr. Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios have given to these communities of people living with chronic illness, who are in desperate need of the critical funds and global awareness that each one of these projects directly provided.’ 

His rep pointed out that before Wayfarer was even founded, ‘Baldoni dedicated his professional career to raising awareness and funds for these individuals with the sole intent of memorializing their legacies.’ 

Although some former employees were dissatisfied with their time workign for Wayfarer, others, like filmmaker Christel Cornilsen, had nothing but good things to say. 

After becoming the first female director on one of the company’s projects, Cornilsen said she felt very supported while shooting in Malawi. 

While navigating no electricity or running water, Cornilsen said Baldoni and Wayfarer ‘were really there for’ her. 

‘It was constant positivity all the time — I would say toxic positivity,’ the ex-Wayfarer employee said. ‘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’ (Baldoni seen last year)

‘They risked a lot of money for humanitarian projects that they didn’t make back. That’s putting your money where your mouth is. There were always good intentions. A lot of corporations are phony. You have to measure the impact. Justin is generally a good egg,’ she said. 

The LA Times also unearthed a a previously unreported 2020 lawsuit against Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios. 

In December 2020, former Wayfarer executive Shane Norman, who is Black, claimed in a lawsuit that he was ‘recruited with promises of job security and professional advancement’ but eventually ‘terminated after raising concerns about racial inequities at the company.’

In the complaint, he alleged that during the hiring process, Sarowitz told Norman: ‘We need somebody here who looks like you.’ 

A spokesperson for Wayfarer told the Los Angeles Times that ‘Mr. Sarowitz was not a defendant in the lawsuit’ and ‘Wayfarer Studios, Wayfarer Entertainment, and Baldoni denied this and all the material allegations in the complaint, the First Amended Complaint, and the Second Amended Complaint.’ 

The lawsuit also alleged Wayfarer had a ‘a pattern of sidelining and tokenizing people of color.’  

After speaking up Norman says he was ‘demoted, his pay was cut and he was ultimately terminated, while non-Black employees in similar circumstances received severance packages that he was denied.’

Two former staffers also expressed unease with ‘Baldoni’s repeated focus on stories of terminal illness’ (like his film 5 Feet Apart centering on teens with cystic fibrosis) 

Baldoni dedicated Five Feet Apart, to YouTuber Claire Wineland, who was a paid consultant on the film and chronicled her life with cystic fibrosis in a series of raw YouTube videos

Baldoni and Wayfarer denied all these allegations and a judge dismissed some of Norman’s claims in the case in September 2021.

After filing an appeal, Norman ended up voluntarily dismissing the ‘lawsuit with prejudice, meaning he could not refile it.’ 

The LA Times reported that a ‘source with knowledge of the negotiations said Norman received approximately $150,000 to drop his claims.’ 

A spokesperson for Baldoni told DailyMail.com: ‘Throughout their defense of Mr. Norman’s lawsuit … Mr. Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios and Wayfarer Entertainment vigorously denied all of Mr. Norman’s claims.’ 

‘In fact, public records confirm the trial court dismissed Mr. Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios from the lawsuit well before any resolution by the parties and the concurrent dismissal of the remainder of the lawsuit. Other than stating that the matter was resolved, we are unable to further comment,’ Baldoni’s rep pointed out.

The Los Angeles Times also claims that multiple employees alleged they felt uncomfortable with the ‘increasing prominence of the Bahai faith in Wayfarer’s office culture’ (Baldoni seen in 2023)

Baldoni is embroiled in a heated legal feud with his former co-star Blake Lively

Previously, Baldoni was sued in a case involving copyright infringement and breach of contract over his directorial debut, Five Feet Apart, which starred Cole Sprouse. 

Writer Travis Flores, who suffered from cystic fibrosis and was a three-time lung transplant beneficiary, claimed that Baldoni ‘ripped off’ his script, тιтled Three Feet Distance.

Ultimately, as reported by Bloomberg Law, the copyright infringement lawsuit over the film was dismissed by a federal court in Los Angeles in March 2022. 

Baldoni dedicated his film, Five Feet Apart, to YouTuber Claire Wineland, who was a paid consultant on the film and chronicled her life with cystic fibrosis in a series of raw YouTube videos.

The movie was a box office hit, earning an impressive $92 million on a $7 million budget.

At the time of its release, Baldoni revealed to The Hollywood Reporter that Wineland ‘unfortunately pᴀssed away just before’ he ‘could show her’ his ‘director’s cut.’

‘It’s something I’m still dealing with,’ he admitted.

Lively’s bombshell claims made global headlines thanks to the near-simultaneous publication of a 4,000-word New York Times expose that quoted heavily from the civil rights complaint 

The article came out amid Baldoni’s heated legal feud with his former co-star Blake Lively. 

Lively kicked off hostilities with a California civil rights complaint and subsequent federal lawsuit, claiming Baldoni – who was both director and co-star – had entered her trailer while she was topless, showed her graphic video of his wife giving birth and bit and sucked on her lips during an improvised kissing scene.

She further accused him of smearing her reputation when she objected to the alleged abuse, citing a text message from Baldoni’s publicist Melissa Nathan which read: ‘We can bury anyone.’

Lively’s bombshell claims made global headlines thanks to the near-simultaneous publication of a 4,000-word New York Times expose that quoted heavily from the civil rights complaint.

Baldoni countersued Lively and her Hollywood actor husband Ryan Reynolds, turning the spat on its head by claiming it was their team doing the smearing and asking for $400 million in damages.

He accused her of twisting the meaning of his texts and emails and working in tandem with Leslie Sloane, a powerful Hollywood publicist, to plant damaging stories about him in the media.

It was all a ploy, Baldoni argued, to rebuild Lively’s reputation after she came in for criticism for being prickly and difficult in interviews and promotional events.

Any negative publicity surrounding his blonde leading lady had arisen ‘organically’, his suit contends.

Baldoni also sued The Times for $250million, claiming it ‘relied almost entirely on Lively’s unverified and self-serving narrative, lifting it nearly verbatim while disregarding an abundance of evidence that contradicted her claims.’

The newspaper says it plans to ‘vigorously defend’ itself.

Baldoni countersued Lively and her Hollywood actor husband Ryan Reynolds, turning the spat on its head by claiming it was their team doing the smearing and asking for $400 million in damages; Lively and Baldoni seen shooting It Ends With Us last year

Last month, Baldoni’s team released a website which includes private communications such as text messages that were included in court filings detailing his interactions with the Hollywood power couple over the making of romantic drama.

He claimed in court filings that Lively’s team made efforts to usurp and undermine his input as the director of It Ends With Us.

Baldoni’s team previously said that the communications shared in court filings on the website makes things clear about the motives of both parties, marking the latest chapter in the feud between the headliners.

The website, thelawsuitinfo.com, comes amid a spate of high-profile litigation between the collaborators on the film.

The site went live days prior to the first hearing, ahead of a trial which is due to start on March 9, 2026.

It Ends With Us made $351 million worldwide at the box office against a $25 million budget; seen in a still from the film

Lively filed an 80-page civil rights complaint with the California Civil Rights Department against Baldoni December 20, before officially filing a federal lawsuit on New Year’s Eve.

Her case claims Baldoni Sєxual harᴀssed her during production of the movie. The Gossip Girl alum accused him of body shaming her and orchestrating a smear campaign against her to damage her reputation.

Baldoni and his reps have said in response to the lawsuit that Lively twisted the meaning of text messages and misled the public about their interactions while making the motion picture.

In her lawsuit, Lively named a number of Baldoni’s collaborators, including his company Wayfarer Studios, the studio’s CEO and financial backer, and PR personnel Nathan and Jennifer Abel.

‘I hope that my legal action helps pull back the curtain on these sinister retaliatory tactics to harm people who speak up about misconduct and helps protect others who may be targeted,’ Lively told the Times the day after she filed the complaint.