Blake Lively’s brother-in-law, Bart Johnson, has publicly apologized for past "unkind" remarks about actor Justin Baldoni.
The High School Musical star expressed regret after his comment, made on X (formerly Twitter), seemingly targeted Baldoni in the midst of Lively's ongoing legal battle.
Johnson, who is married to Lively’s sister Robyn, wrote on January 28, 2025, that he regretted speaking harshly about anyone, especially in the context of defending others. His post followed a deleted tweet where he referred to Baldoni as a “fraud” and criticized his public persona, specifically mocking Baldoni's "man bun" and accusing him of being inauthentic. Johnson explained that while he had intended to stand up for his family, such comments fell short of his personal standards.
Anytime I’ve said anything unkind about someone I’ve regretted it. Fortunately that’s almost never and definitely not when I’m at my best. Regardless if it’s true or not, if it’s my opinion, even if I’m trying to speak truth or stand up for someone, it’s never good. Even in times…
— Bart Johnson (@bart_johnson) January 28, 2025
In his apology, Johnson admitted that even if his comments were rooted in truth or were meant to support Lively, they were “never good” and “below the standard” he set for himself. He also expressed a commitment to growth and doing better in the future, stating that he would “work in progress” to avoid repeating past mistakes.
The controversy arose as Lively, 37, filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against Baldoni in December 2024, accusing him of creating a hostile work environment and retaliating against her publicly. Baldoni denied the allegations and countered with a defamation lawsuit. The ongoing legal battle, with a pre-trial conference set for February 12, 2025, continues to draw attention in Hollywood.
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