“I’m just being honest” is often cruelty that found a lawyer.

The phrase almost always arrives after the sentence rather than before it, which is the clue. Honesty offered because someone needs it looks different from honesty deployed because you wanted to say it. Real candor takes the other person’s situation into account. The imitation uses truth as cover and then acts wounded when it lands badly.

Before the blunt remark, check two things: whether they asked, and whether the information helps them. If both answers are no, what you have is an opinion you wanted off your chest, and there are cheaper places to put it.