“Sound of Freedom” is without doubt one of the most sudden box-office hits of the 12 months, grossing over $200 million in its theatrical run. However the movie, which dramatizes the story of Tim Ballard and his anti-sex trafficking group Operation Underground Railroad, has additionally confronted quite a few controversies, together with a backer charged with little one kidnapping, accusations of inaccuracies and sensationalism, and rumors that the movie has ties to Qanon.
Now, the movie’s hero faces a large controversy of his personal. Ballard, who based OUR in 2013, left the group in July. A brand new report from Vice, printed Monday, reveals that Ballard’s departure from his nonprofit allegedly got here after an investigation into claims of sexual misconduct involving a number of ladies on the group.
In line with the Vice report, Ballard — who has confronted quite a few accusations of exaggerating and falsifying the corporate’s work — would allegedly invite ladies to pose as his spouse on abroad missions ostensibly supposed to rescue trafficking victims. Throughout these missions, he would allegedly coerce the ladies into sharing a mattress or showering with him with the intention to “idiot traffickers.” He additionally allegedly despatched a photograph of himself in his underwear to not less than one lady he introduced on these journeys, and requested one other “how far she was keen to go” for his or her project.
No less than seven staff had been amongst those that alleged to have skilled sexual coercion and harassment from Ballard, however Vice notes that it’s additionally believed that feminine contractors and OUR volunteers skilled related remedy.
In an announcement to Vice, OUR wrote that “Tim Ballard resigned from O.U.R. on June 22, 2023. He has completely separated from O.U.R. O.U.R. is devoted to combatting sexual abuse, and doesn’t tolerate sexual harassment or discrimination by anybody in its group.”
In July, Vice additionally reported that donors for anti-sex trafficking causes obtained an anonymous letter accusing Ballard of sexual harassment. The letter additionally alleged that OUR’s board and attorneys made agreements to forestall executives from discussing the circumstances round Ballard’s exit from the corporate.
Ballard didn’t reply to Vice’s request to remark. In line with the report, he’s allegedly looking for a means again to the group following the scandal. Ballard additionally made headlines not too long ago when a number of retailers reported he was considering a run for Senate, to fill the seat vacated by Mitt Romney.
