Jason Bateman recently offered a candid update regarding his relationship with his sister, writer and director Justine Bateman. In a December 2025 interview with Esquire, the Ozark and Zootopia 2 star addressed long-standing speculation about a potential rift between the siblings, clarifying that while they “don’t see each other a ton,” the distance is a conscious, healthy choice rather than the result of animosity.
For years, rumors have swirled suggesting that differing political ideologies had driven a wedge between the famous siblings. Justine Bateman, known for her role in Family Ties, has been vocal on social media about her views, leading some observers to assume tension with her brother, who has often expressed more liberal leanings. However, Jason Bateman shut down these assumptions, describing their dynamic as a mature, evolving connection.
“There isn’t the typical ‘We see each other every Thanksgiving or every Christmas and our kids want to be together.’ There isn’t that. In a great way,” Bateman told Esquire. He emphasized that their bond is not based on obligation but on mutual respect. “Our conversations are the rich conversations you would have with an adult friend, not the kind of petulant back-and-forth you might have with your adult sibling.”
The actor went on to explain that this “peer relationship” allows them to appreciate each other as distinct people. “We hang out, and we’re nice to each other because we respect one another as individuals regardless of the blood thing,” he noted, adding casually, “I’m seeing her for lunch next week.”
This sentiment echoes recent statements from Justine Bateman herself. In September 2025, she took to X (formerly Twitter) to dismantle the “fantasy” of a family feud. “Anyone bringing up my brother to me for any other reason than to say you like his new upcoming show, or any of his past work, will be muted at best, and blocked at worst,” she wrote. She expressed frustration with the public narrative, stating, “I’m not interested in your fantasy about some imagined conflict between the two of us over your political ideologies. Really, it’s sick.”
The siblings, who both rose to fame as child stars in the 1980s—Jason in Little House on the Prairie and Justine in Family Ties—appear to have successfully navigated the transition from a shared childhood in the spotlight to independent adult lives. Jason Bateman suggested that their upbringing, in which they had a “peer relationship” with their parents, who served as their managers, may have contributed to their unique yet functional adult dynamic.
While they may not fit the traditional mold of a constantly connected family unit, both Batemans appear content with the terms of their engagement. As Jason Bateman summarized, the lack of forced gatherings allows for a more genuine connection when they do meet.
