Blake Lively’s brother-in-law makes shock apology to Justin Baldoni as Taylor Swift ‘steps back’

A close family member of Blake Lively has apologised to her co-star Justin Baldoni amid their legal row, as Taylor Swift appears to distance herself.

Blake Lively’s brother-in-law has made an unexpected apology to Justin Baldoni amid the It Ends With Us co-stars legal row.

Bart Johnson, married to Lively’s sister Robyn, took to X to apologise for his now-deleted posts, in which he called Baldoni a “fraud” and criticised his appearance.

“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,” he wrote.

“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.”

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

The High School Musical star was referencing his post in which he accused Baldoni of donning “the costume of a hero, man bun and all,” while using “trendy catchphrases and buzzwords” for his podcasts.

“None of it’s genuine. It’s all theatre. And everyone fell for it. For years,” Johnson said of Baldoni’s reputation of being a feminist and proud ally to women.

In his tweet, Johnson also told fans that he “sincerely” apologised to anyone that he “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 criticised anyone on social,” he wrote.

“It’s not my jam … We all have flaws and I’m definitely a work in progress and doing my best to grow and be better.”

Baldoni filed a $A638 million defamation and extortion lawsuit against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds and her publicist, Leslie Sloane. Picture: GC Images

Meanwhile, pop star Taylor Swift is said to have distanced herself from the ongoing drama between her best friend Lively and Baldoni.

However, sources close to the star said that the claims are untrue although Swift is yet to comment indicating that she doesn’t want to get involved.

Earlier this week, a nearly seven-minute voice memo sent by Baldoni to Lively was released, following a dispute over the film’s script.

Baldoni filed a $A638 million defamation and extortion lawsuit against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds and her publicist, Leslie Sloane, claiming the Hollywood couple asserted control over the production of the film.

In a January court filing, Baldoni stated that he felt pressured by Reynolds and Lively’s “mega celebrity friend” to approve the scene revisions following a meeting at the couple’s home.

Taylor Swift has distanced herself from the ongoing drama between her best friend Lively and Baldoni, according to reports. Picture: GC Images

“Damn right you’ve got great friends if that’s how you felt, and they knew that. F —, we should all have friends like that,” Baldoni said in the memo, seemingly referring to Reynolds, 48, and Swift, 35.

In the voice memo, Baldoni appeared to praise Reynolds and Swift as “two of the most creative people on the planet,” gushing, “The three of you guys together is unbelievable. Talk about energy. Just a force all three of you.”

However, he pointed out that he “didn’t need” Lively’s crew to back her up on the script changes because he already knew her draft was “really good and it’s going to make the movie,” just as Lively told him.

In December 2024, Lively accused Baldoni of sexual harassment, alleging he made her uncomfortable on multiple occasions by inappropriately talking about his past porn addiction and walking in on her while breastfeeding without permission.

Baldoni’s legal team denied the allegations and claimed Lively’s bad publicity “was garnered from her own remarks and actions during the campaign for the film; interviews and press activities that were observed publicly, in real time and unedited, which allowed for the internet to generate their own views and opinions.”

Lively went on to sue Justin for alleged sexual harassment, retaliation, breach of contract, infliction of emotional distress, invasion of privacy and lost wages.

Baldoni then filed a $US250 million ($A397m) libel lawsuit against the New York Times for their coverage of Lively’s allegations.

Originally published as Blake Lively’s brother-in-law makes shock apology to Justin Baldoni as Taylor Swift ‘steps back’