'It Ends With Us' Brandon Sklenar Celebrates Amid Blake Lively's Suit Against Justin Baldoni
Actor Brandon Sklenar, known for his role in "It Ends With Us," recently enjoyed a festive gathering while the spotlight turned towards Blake Lively's lawsuit against director Justin Baldoni, US Weekly reported.
Sklenar, age 34, joined Miles Teller and his wife, Keleigh Teller, for a holiday celebration. Keleigh, 32, shared fun moments from the event on Instagram, captioning the post with "Annual white elephant x @drinkolipop 🐘 🎄." The photos showcased their beautiful holiday decorations, including a vibrant Christmas tree and stockings, with Sklenar visible as guests admired their gifts.
Sklenar co-starred with Lively, 37, and Baldoni, 40, in the film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel released this summer. As promotion for the movie unfolded, fans speculated about on-set tensions between Lively and Baldoni. Despite sharing a romantic storyline, they noticeably skipped joint appearances at promotional events.
An insider revealed to Us Weekly that there were divisions on set, leading to a "team Blake" versus "team Justin" atmosphere. This friction contributed to a negative dynamic during production, leaving the leads incommunicado.
As rumors about discord mounted, Lively received criticism for seeming to minimize the film’s handling of domestic violence. In her role as Lily, she escapes an abusive relationship, but discussions around her promotional interviews came under fire. Lively later shared patient resources on social media addressing the very issues highlighted in the movie.
Sklenar, recognizing the situation's complexity, crafted an Instagram statement in August indicating support for Lively. "Colleen and the women of this cast stand for hope, perseverance, and for women choosing a better life for themselves," he emphasized. He argued against targeting the cast, stating that negativity undermined the film's core message.
After its release, news resurfaced concerning Lively and Baldoni as Lively pursued legal action. On December 21, it became public that she accused Baldoni of sexual harassment and claimed emotional distress during filming.
Lively’s lawsuit outlines issues surrounding a "hostile work environment" made more distressing by discussions that should never have occurred. Her allegations laid out requests to avoid nudity references, inappropriate discussions about Baldoni's personal history, and invasive comments regarding her family and weight.
Additionally, she asserted that Baldoni had crafted a negative campaign aimed at damaging her reputation. Baldoni's attorney dismissed the allegations as "outrageous" and suggested they were a means for Lively to repair her public image.
In a statement to "The New York Times," Lively denied complicity in spreading any negative commentary about Baldoni and expressed hopes that her lawsuit would expose retaliatory tactics targeting individuals addressing misconduct.
In the fallout from these severe allegations, it was reported that Baldoni faced dismissal from WME shortly after the stories emerged. While Sklenar has mostly steered clear of commenting on the ongoing legal proceedings, Colleen Hoover publicly expressed her support for Lively, applauding her integrity through a heartfelt social media message.
Earlier, SSP wrote that Taylor Swift sent a heartfelt gift to a young fan during the hospital visit.
