Blake Lively’s brother-in-law Bart Johnson fiercely defends her, slams Justin Baldoni’s ‘gross’ PR team
Blake Lively’s brother-in-law has come to the actress’ defense amid her legal drama with Justin Baldoni.
Bart Johnson publicly supported Lively on social media just days after the “Gossip Girl” alum filed a bombshell legal complaint against Baldoni, who co-starred and directed their hit film, “This Ends With Us.”
“Her complaints were filed during the filming. On record. Long before the public conflict. The cast unfollowed him [Baldoni] for a reason,” Johnson, 54, wrote in the comments section of an Instagram post about the news from The New York Times.
“His PR team was stellar. Gross and disgusting but highly effective. Read the article, their text message exchanges and his PR campaign strategy to bury her by any means necessary. No one is with out [sic] faults. But the public got played.”
Johnson — who is married to Lively’s sister, Robyn — added in his public Instagram comment that “of course mistakes were made” on Lively’s part. However, he brought up her myriad of responsibilities, including being a mother of four children, whom she shares with husband Ryan Reynolds.
“Just IMAGINE being a stay at home mom raising 4 kids, married to the busiest man in Hollywood and at the same time being a girl boss running multiple companies while writing, producing, running non profits and working 16+ hour days from home so you can be with your kids,” he argued.
“Launching 2 new businesses you been working on / developing for many years (launch scheduled by distributors, not you, btw) all while getting attacked by a VERY expensive PR smear campaign because you filed a sexual harassment claim for the very film you have to go out and promote with just the right tone or you get cooked!?”
The “High School Musical” star also referenced resurfaced interviews in which Lively appeared to be rude to the interviewer.
“But yeah let’s post from our couch how much we hate her for making mistakes. That makes sense,” he opined.
“I mean, she’s been rude in these interviews that magically played on repeat. I saw it. None of us have ever been wrong or mean. Never. We should discount decades of good for those few bad moments. Glad the microscope isn’t on me every day of my life.”
In another comment, Johnson clarified what he meant by “girl boss,” writing, “A woman that is kicking a$$ as an entrepreneur and/or business owner in what has been previously dominated by men.”
He added, “And showing they are every bit as capable and qualified if not more so in that space. [Blake’s] my hero as is any woman charging it like this. You’re free to define it as you wish, but that’s on you.”
According to court documents obtained by Page Six, Lively, 37, accused Baldoni, 40, of sexually harassing her and other co-stars on set — and then waging a negative press campaign in an effort to smear her reputation. Baldoni has vehemently denied all of the allegations.
Over the weekend, Lively’s sister also defended the actress online after the legal complaint was filed.
“FINALLY justice for my sister @blakelively,” Robyn, 52, wrote via her Instagram Story, sharing screenshots of a New York Times article about Blake’s lawsuit.
Baldoni’s lawyer, meanwhile, has called the claims “completely false, outrageous and intentionally salacious.”
