“Anytime I’ve said anything unkind about someone I’ve regretted it,” Johnson – who played Zac Efron’s dad Coach Bolton in the HSM franchise – tweeted in a lengthy post on January 28. “Fortunately that’s almost never and definitely not when I’m at my best.”
Johnson – who is married to Lively’s older sister, actor Robyn Lively – made it clear that he is still in Lively’s corner, but he believes he could have shown more restraint when defending her online.
“If it’s my opinion, even if I’m trying to speak truth or stand up for someone, it’s never good,” he said.
“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.”
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,” he promised. “If you follow me you know you’ll be hard-pressed to find more than one time I’ve criticised anyone on social. It’s not my jam. You can easily find a million times I’ve uplifted, support, encourage and uplifted my family, friends, followers and strangers.
“That’s what I’m committed to and where I find my happiness. We all have flaws and I’m definitely a work in progress and doing my best to grow and be better. Sending ALL my love to ALL of you.”
Blake Lively and Ryan Reynold have asked a judge to silence Justin Baldoni and his legal team amid the "It Ends With Us" fallout. Photo / Getty Images
One X user wondered if Johnson was not directly apologising to Baldoni to avoid a lawsuit from the Jane The Virgin star, to which he laughed off the suggestion.
Baldoni is currently suing the New York Times for US$250 million ($441m) for writing a damning article about him while also suing Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, for a further US$400 million ($706m) for allegedly harming his career and reputation.
“Now I’m gonna get sued? [laughing emoji] for what?” Johnson tweeted. “I find those types of podcasts phoney. I do. That’s not a crime. But I do feel bad rippin' on them. That’s literally all I said.”
“Just like you and all the toxic and hateful comments I get from his fans wishing me and my children harm and calling me all the vile names you can imagine, it’s not a crime.
“People are free to do so and I’m not mad. That’s fine. I can take the beatings. You think I deserve it? Okay, that’s fine too. Movin' on. Can’t let it get me down. Keep bein' me. 2025 gonna be great!! Let’s goooooo …”
In his original comments, Johnson didn’t hold back in slamming Baldoni.
“He’s a fraud,” he wrote under the New York Times’ Instagram post promoting their article on Baldoni. “He puts on the ‘costume’ of a hero, man bun and all. Used all of the trendy catchphrases and buzzwords for his podcasts. None of it’s genuine. It’s all theatre. And everyone fell for it. For years.”
“No one is without faults,” he concluded, “but the public got played”.
