Blake Lively’s Brother-in-Law Slams “Fraud” Justin Baldoni Amid Sexual Harassment Lawsuit
Bart Johnson, the brother-in-law of Blake Lively, has spoken out against “fraud” Justin Baldoni, who is accused of sexual harassment by Lively.
Johnson’s Scathing Criticism
Johnson, who is married to Lively’s sister Robyn, took to social media to share his thoughts on Baldoni, calling him a “fraud” who puts on a “costume” of a hero.
“He’s a fraud. He puts on the ‘costume’ of a hero, man bun and all,” Johnson, 54, shared.
Johnson also criticized Baldoni’s podcast, “Man Enough,” saying that it’s all “theater” and that everyone fell for it.
“Used all of the trendy catchphrases & buzz words for his podcasts,” he continued. “None of it’s genuine. It’s all theater. And everyone fell for it. For years. Rewatch his videos with a more critical eye and watch him compliment and praise himself with faux humility and self-deprecation. What a performance.”
Lively’s Lawsuit Against Baldoni
Lively, 37, filed a complaint against Baldoni, 40, with the California Civil Complaints Department on Friday, December 20, accusing him of sexual harassment on the set of their recent Colleen Hoover adaptation.
She also claimed that Baldoni was behind a digital smear campaign to tarnish her reputation.
Baldoni’s Response
Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, released a statement on Saturday, December 21, denying Lively’s accusations, calling them “completely false, outrageous and intentionally salacious.”
Freedman claimed that Lively sued to “fix her negative reputation” and “rehash a narrative” regarding the film’s production.
Johnson’s Support for Lively
Johnson previously supported his sister-in-law on Saturday after news of the lawsuit went public.
“Her complaints were filed during the filming. On record. Long before the public conflict. The cast unfollowed him for a reason,” Johnson alleged in the comments section of The New York Times’ Instagram post about Lively’s lawsuit.
“His PR team was stellar. Gross and disgusting but highly effective,” Johnson continued. “Read the article, their text message exchanges and his PR campaign strategy to bury her by any means necessary. No one is without faults. But the public got played.”
Conclusion
Johnson’s scathing criticism of Baldoni has sparked a heated debate online, with many siding with Lively and others defending Baldoni. The lawsuit is ongoing, and it remains to be seen how it will play out.
FAQs
Q: What is the lawsuit about?
A: Blake Lively has accused Justin Baldoni of sexual harassment on the set of their recent Colleen Hoover adaptation.
Q: What is Bart Johnson’s relationship to Blake Lively?
A: Bart Johnson is the brother-in-law of Blake Lively, being married to her sister Robyn.
Q: What is the response from Justin Baldoni’s lawyer?
A: Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, has denied Lively’s accusations, calling them “completely false, outrageous and intentionally salacious.”
Q: What is the current status of the lawsuit?
A: The lawsuit is ongoing, and it remains to be seen how it will play out.