Blake Lively's Brother-In-Law Seemingly Apologizes For Mocking Justin Baldoni

David Moye
·3-min read

As the PR and legal battle intensifies between “It Ends With Us” actor Blake Lively and actor/director Justin Baldoni, it seems like one of Lively’s relatives is apologizing to Baldoni for adding his two cents.

Actor Bart Johnson, who is married to Lively’s sister, Robyn Lively, took to X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday to apologize for “saying something that sounds mean.”

This is being interpreted as a reference to certain comments Johnson made on social media last month ― which included mocking an unidentified fellow with a man bun, a signature part of Baldoni’s style until he cut it off in 2023.

In a now-deleted post on Dec. 23, Johnson appeared to support his sister-in-law’s public battle with Baldoni, which has been ongoing since the film was released this past fall.

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Johnson’s December post didn’t mention Baldoni by name, but the references to podcasts and a “man bun” seemed like a big clue:

He puts on the ‘costume’ of a hero, man bun and all. Used all of the trendy catchphrases & buzz words for his podcasts. None of it’s genuine. It’s all theater. And everyone fell for it. For years.

On Tuesday, the same day a New York judge set a date of March 9, 2026, for the Lively-Baldoni trial, Johnson offered an oblique apology for his earlier comments.

As with his original post, Johnson didn’t mention Baldoni by name on Tuesday. This time, there was no mention of a man bun, either:

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 where it might “feel” justified and doing the right thing, it makes no difference. There’s a better way. It’s below the standard I have for myself and I regret it.

I do sincerely apologize to anyone I’ve hurt or let down by saying something that sounds mean. I’ll do better.

If you follow me you know you’ll be hard pressed to find more than 1 time I’ve criticized anyone on social. It’s not my jam. You can easily find a million times I’ve uplifted, support, encourage and uplifted my family, friends, followers & strangers. That’s what I’m committed to and where I find my happiness.

We all have flaws and I’m definitely a work in progress and doing my best to grow and be better. Sending ALL my love to ALL of you.

Lively has accused Baldoni of sexually harassing her during the “Ends” shoot, and Baldoni filed a $400 milllion countersuit against her and her husband, actor Ryan Reynolds, for alleged defamation.

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Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, is claiming that jokes in last year’s Marvel blockbuster “Deadpool & Wolverine,” starring Reynolds, targeted his client in a negative way.

For instance, there’s a character named “Nicepool” who sports a man bun and tells Deadpool: “I’d be fighting alongside you, but my calling is to one day start a podcast that monetizes the women’s movement” ― a possible reference to Baldoni’s “Man Enough” podcast. (Both Nicepool and Deadpool are played by Reynolds, because of alternate universes and so on.)

HuffPost reached out to Freedman for comment on Johnson’s post, but no one immediately responded.

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