Justin Baldoni recalls how ‘masks of masculinity’ factored into past relationships – until he met his wife

Justin Baldoni opened up about his experiences trying to define himself and date in his 20s on Rainn Wilson’s podcast Soul Bloom.

‘In my twenties, I would try on, as I called it, the different masks of masculinity…like, let me just pretend to not give a sh*t about anything,’ he explained.

‘And, I struggled. You know, I would meet somebody and then maybe I liked her but then I was like, “Don’t text her. Can’t text her.” Why?’

The It Ends With Us actor and director, 40, continued: ‘So then I would not text her those two days I had so much anxiety. 

‘I was like, I want to tell her, I have these feelings. I was trying to be maybe something I wasn’t at first and not text or not call her, but all I wanted to do was share my heart.’

Justin Baldoni opened up about his experiences trying to define himself and date in his 20s on Rainn Wilson’s podcast Soul Bloom. Seen here at the It Ends With Us premiere in 2024

He continued to explain his thoughts, saying, ‘Then I realized, over the course of my twenties, that none of that stuff was working for me. 

‘So, I started questioning things and when I met my wife it was like a lightbulb went off. When I realized what if I am just myself? What if I am just myself and I share with her all the parts of me?’

Fans responded positively to his admission with many admitting they wished more men were this self-respective while others said they are still doing the things The Jane the Virgin star revealed. 

One commenter said, ‘Beautiful. I think true masculinity IS being yourself with your partner and sharing your whole self. When you’re afraid to do that, it’s more of your ego, fear of rejection, or sense of pride getting in the way.’

He spoke about a similar sentiment in a 2017 interview with Makers and how it all came together for him when he met his wife Emily.

‘One of the things I learned from my mom was trusting my intuition, something I wish more men would tap into,’ he said. 

‘I had made the same mistake so many times, searching for something in a package that I thought I would want,’ he explained.

‘When I met Emily, it was unlike all my other experiences. She had, like, a depth and a grace and this quiet strength that I think I always dreamed of and I just knew.’ 

Baldoni and his wife have been married since 2013

Baldoni and his wife have been married since 2013 

'So then I would not text her those two days I had so much anxiety. 'I was like, I want to tell her, I have these feelings.' Seen here at a pre-Emmy Awards bash in 2024

‘So then I would not text her those two days I had so much anxiety. ‘I was like, I want to tell her, I have these feelings.’ Seen here at a pre-Emmy Awards bash in 2024

Fans responded positively to his admission with many admitting they wished more men were this self-respective

Fans responded positively to his admission with many admitting they wished more men were this self-respective

Justin proposed to Emily in April 2013 at the Blu Jam Cafe in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles.

The restaurant is the same place they had their first date.

They married in July 2013 in Corona, California.  

Justin and Emily went on to welcome daughter Maiya in 2015 and son Maxwell in 2017

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