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Blake Lively‘s famous brother-in-law has stepped in to defend her against Justin Baldoni. In case you missed it, Blake and Justin have been all over the headlines since the summer. The pair starred in a novel-based movie called It Ends With Us. During their press tour, many netizens started noticing things about the cast’s dynamic. Most notably, none of the cast members followed Justin on Instagram. Petty? Certainly. However, given our world’s digital state of being, many saw it as a sign. Later that summer, people began eviscerating Blake online. But according to Lively’s recent lawsuit against Baldoni, that was part of a bigger plan to ruin her reputation in Hollywood.
Blake’s Brother Speaks on the Lawsuit
On Sunday, December 22, news broke that Blake Lively filed a shocking lawsuit against Justin Baldoni and his production company. The suit alleges several horrific claims, including sexual harassment and retaliation. Lively’s lawsuit came as a surprise to many, considering Baldoni’s entire brand over the last several years has been about being an ally to women and calling out toxic masculinity. Blake also accused Justin and two publicists of running a smear campaign on her to ruin her reputation. The actress, known for Gossip Girl, included alleged text messages that said they “can bury anyone.”
Blake’s famous brother, known for his role in High School Musical, called Justin Baldoni out in a series of social media posts. In one, he slammed the actor and director for being a “fraud” who wears the “costume of a hero.” Bart Johnson continued, slamming Justin for using “trendy buzz words” for his podcast, The Man Enough show. “None of it is 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.”
Justin Baldoni Responds to Claims
No one saw Blake Lively’s lawsuit against Justin Baldoni coming. Shortly after the filing became public, Justin replied to the news and called them false. “These claims are completely false, outrageous, and intentionally salacious with an intent to publicly hurt and rehash a narrative in the media,” Baldoni’s attorney said. However, Blake isn’t backing down. “I hope that my legal action helps pull back the curtain on these sinister retaliatory tactics to harm people who speak up about misconduct and helps protect others who may be targeted,” she said in a statement.
Several Public Figures Have Come to Blake’s Defense
If Blake’s brother blasting Justin Baldoni online wasn’t enough, the actor has certainly been reminded that Lively has a lot of support in the industry. Sony Pictures, the company that distributed the film It Ends With Us, issued a statement in support of Blake. “We have previously expressed our support for Blake in connection with her work on and for the film,” they said. “Further, we strongly condemn any reputational attacks on her. Any such attacks have no place in our business or in a civil society.”
The book’s author, Colleen Hoover, also issued a statement, calling her “honest, kind [and] supportive.” And that’s not all. Justin’s only female podcast co-host, Liz Plank, also spoke out against him. In a statement on her Instagram, she told the public she was leaving The Man Enough Podcast before saying there’s “work” to handle. It’ll be interesting to see what happens next with the lawsuit between these two stars, but if anything is clear after today, it’s that Blake is more than ready for a battle.
