Amidst fans’ waiting schedule for Netflix to bring a full circle with the final season of Stranger Things, stranger things have happened in Hollywood. Despite aiming for a bit of that Deadpool & Wolverine glory with It Ends With Us, Blake Lively was found navigating the upside-down struggles of overbearing backlash after her fallout with the director, Justin Baldoni. Although the industry was divided into two sides, the one backing Lively had formidable cheerleaders, with one specifically from her own kin, her brother-in-law.

With the dispute now fizzled out, Lively’s brother-in-law’s public defense has disappeared without a trace as well, leaving many confused.

When the feud between It Ends With Us star, Blake Lively, and director, Justin Baldoni broke out in public, several close friends and family members gathered to rally behind the actor. Among the long list of her cheerleaders was her brother-in-law, Bart Johnson, who posted a heartfelt tribute for Lively on her 37th birthday in August. While the post did not mention the public dispute, Johnson defended Lively in response to the criticism made by the followers in comments, which is nowhere to be found now.

Fans slipped in the cloak of criticism and aimed at Lively’s promotion of “happiness” in a “domestic violence” setting, according to a report by Marie Claire. Johnson responded to one such critic with sheer composure, trying to understand their side of emotions while making a case for Lively’s front, outlining the hard work she put into the movie. Johnson pitched in for Lively, highlighting how mistakes make humans, but since, the original follower’s comments have been removed alongside his own response.

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It remains unclear who deleted the exchange, and when, but fans were not the only ones who thought the promotions were not up to the mark.

When the PR scandal was at its prime surrounding It Ends With Us, supporters of Blake Lively were just as many as her critics. Especially in the literary field, cold shoulders were more prevalent than open arms. On an episode of the Citizen McCain podcast, Meghan McCain directly called Lively “insensitive” for her approach to the issue of domestic violence during the promotion of It Ends With Us.

Lively was slammed for neglecting the film’s crucial theme, domestic violence, instead focusing on promoting her haircare brand, Blake Brown Beauty, and her floral fashion choices. McCain also called out the “tone she’s setting in a lot of the press,” leaning on Lively’s plea for women to wear their florals and come to watch the movie. So, just like her supporters, her critics were omnipresent—spanning from the fandom of cinema to literature, and pretty much everything else.

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What do you think of Blake Lively's brother-in-law's missing defense for the star during It Ends With Us PR scandal? Let us know in the comments below!