Seven women sue the hero of the film “Sound of Freedom” for sexual harassment

At least seven women have accused Tim Ballard, portrayed as a hero in the film “Sound of Freedom”, of sexual harassment, according to a report published by Vice this Monday (9/18). Ballard is the founder and former CEO of Operation Underground Railroad, an organization dedicated to fighting child sex trafficking, and was played by Jim Caviezel (Mel Gibson’s Jesus) in the thriller which arrives in Brazil this week.

Vice’s sources said the self-proclaimed activist invited women to serve as his “wife” on secret missions abroad, apparently aimed at rescuing victims of sex trafficking. He reportedly forced the women to share a bed or shower together, claiming this was necessary to deceive traffickers.

Vice said it spoke with many women who complained against Ballard. One reportedly received photos of Ballard in just her underwear, with a series of fake tattoos, while another was asked “how far she was willing to go” to save enslaved children. They requested anonymity because they fear retaliation.

Furthermore, a letter denouncing Ballard’s sexual harassment has been circulating among members of his organization since June.

Permanent removal

After the report came to light, the NGO revealed that Ballard “resigned from OUR on June 22, 2023” and that he “has been permanently removed from the organization.” The entity also stated that it “does not tolerate sexual harassment or discrimination by anyone in its organization” and that it has hired an independent law firm to conduct a thorough investigation into all relevant allegations.

However, the organization chose not to comment further “to preserve the integrity of its investigation and protect the privacy of all involved.”

According to the North American press, Ballard intends to run for the US Senate for Donald Trump’s party.

Success and controversy

The film “The Sound of Liberty,” which portrays the life of Tim Ballard, has achieved more than $180 million at the domestic box office, surpassing titles such as “Indiana Jones and the Relic of Destiny” ($172.9 million) and “Mission: Impossible 7 – Reckoning Part 1” ($160.8 million) in the United States. The success of the film was mainly determined by the support of American right-wing groups, who invested in the project and publicized it, including a screening organized by Trump.

The thriller about child trafficking in South America is loosely based on Ballard’s experiences in South America, although the activist himself admitted that the production takes liberties with the truth. Although it was released without the support of major studios, the film achieved great success, in part due to its alignment with worldviews propagated by conspiracy theories such as QAnon, the main delusion of the US far right.

The plot focuses on Ballard’s tireless quest to reunite a family separated by human trafficking. He initially saves a boy named Miguel at the US-Mexico border and later discovers that Miguel’s sister is still missing. This leads him to Cartagena, where he plans a daring operation to save the girl. The film includes an epilogue scene featuring black-and-white footage of Ballard’s actual operation, although this scene is followed by a controversial mid-credits scene that has been criticized for its manipulative nature, intended to stoke war issues cultural.

The premiere of “Som da Liberdade” in Brazil will take place this Thursday (9/21).

Source: Terra

Amanda

I am Amanda Gans, a motivated and ambitious professional in the news writing industry. With over five years of experience in this field, I have developed an eye for detail and an ability to craft stories that captivate readers. I currently write for Gossipify, where I specialize in beauty & celebrities news. My passion lies with exploring the world of beauty through writing, interviewing experts and developing articles that are both informative and entertaining.