Bart Johnson Apologizes For Calling Justin Baldoni A “Fraud”
Bart Johnson is walking back his words. The High School Musical actor, who is married to Blake Lively’s sister, Robyn, found himself in hot water after calling Justin Baldoni a “fraud” on social media. Now, he’s apologizing.
In a post on X, Bart admitted he regretted saying “unkind” things, even if he believed them to be true. “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,” he wrote. “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.”
The controversy started when Bart appeared to take aim at Justin, who is in a heated legal battle with It Ends With Us co-star Blake Lively. In a now-deleted post, Bart wrote, “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.”
His words quickly went viral, and though the post disappeared, screenshots lived on. Bart returned to X to offer a more thoughtful take. “I do sincerely apologize to anyone I’ve hurt or let down by saying something that sounds mean,” he stated, adding, “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. . . We all have flaws and I’m definitely a work in progress and doing my best to grow and be better.”
The timing of Bart’s comments only added fuel to an already explosive situation. In December, Blake filed a lawsuit accusing Justin of sexual harassment and launching a smear campaign against her. Justin fired back with a $400 million countersuit against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and their publicist, denying all claims.
Blake’s family has publicly supported her, with her sister Robyn sharing, “FINALLY justice for my sister,” in an Instagram Story. Members of the It Ends With Us cast have also spoken out in her defense.
As the legal battle continues, Blake and Justin are set for a pre-trial conference on February 12 in New York City. Meanwhile, Bart is stepping away from the drama, acknowledging that, like everyone, he’s “a work in progress.”
