Blake Lively's Brother-in-Law Bart Johnson Defends Her amidIt Ends With UsDrama: 'Truth Hasn't Come Out Yet'

Mar. 15, 2025

Bart Johnson and Blake Lively in 2016.Photo:Alamy

Alamy

Blake Lively’s brother-in-lawBart Johnsonis defending her amid controversies surrounding her movieIt Ends With Us.

“I’m really sorry you feel that way. I’m sure you have a huge heart and want the best. I can promise you the truth has not come out yet,” Johnson, 53, wrote in response to the comment. “Blake worked harder on this film than anything I’ve seen her do my entire life. Because it meant so much to her.”

Blake, also a producer of the film, stars as Lily Bloom in the adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s novel, and the story deals with toxic relationships, domestic abuse and other complex themes. There are also reports of tension between Blake and her costar-directorJustin Baldoni.

Johnson added in his comment, “The message is in the book. And in the movie. Not in short clips / interviews,” he added in the comment. “She is the reason the message / this movie/ is getting out. Were mistakes made? Yes. I make mistakes in life. But they aren’t under a microscope. Anyway, I respect your views. I got nothing but love for you.”

Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni in “It Ends With Us”.Nicole Rivelli

Nicole Rivelli

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About tension between Blake and Baldoni, 40, one source told PEOPLE Aug. 13, that the issues behind-the-scenes is more thanalleged creative differencesbetween the pair.

“All is not what it seems,” a set source said at that time. “There is much more to this story. The principal cast and [author]Colleen Hooverwill have nothing to do with him.”

In a message afterIt Ends With Us' opening weekend, Lively thanked fans on her Instagram Story and sharedresources to help domestic violence survivors.

“It Ends With Usis a story of the female experience. All the highest highs, and lowest lows. And we are so proud of it,” she wrote at the time. “We have been in celebration of this film and of getting a message so important out there to the masses. Thank you all for embracingIt Ends With Uswith the same love, pain and joy we had sharing it with you all.”

John Nacion/getty

Johnson’s birthday post for Blake included a number of photos of the pair together over the years; he explained in a caption to his post that he and Blake first met after Blake’s father, the lateErnie Lively, hired him to teach a teen acting class.

source: people.com