Brandon Sklenar’s Cryptic Comment Amid Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni Feud

Brandon Sklenar’s new comments come more than a month after he carefully navigated questions about the growing controversy, which first broke in December when Lively filed a complaint alleging sexual harassment on set by Baldoni as well as the alleged orchestration of a smear campaign. Baldoni has denied the accusations.

The 34-year-old actor, who plays Atlas Corrigan in the film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel, was recently approached at the airport and asked if he had any words of encouragement for his co-stars. His response was brief but telling.

“Lead with love and compassion,” he said before quietly heading toward the baggage claim.

When the news first surfaced via a New York Times report, Sklenar was vocal in his support for Lively. He posted a link to the article on his Instagram Stories, writing, “For the love of God, read this,” tagging Lively and adding a red heart emoji.

However, in the months that followed, Sklenar began taking a more neutral stance.

While speaking to The Hollywood Reporter at the Vanity Fair Oscars party in March, he was asked how he had been supporting Lively. “It’s a tough situation,” he said. “I just hope everyone remembers what the movie is about and why we made it in the first place. It’s about love and it’s about supporting women in general and helping people through tough times.”

He continued, “And that movie’s helped so many people, and I just want people to remember like what it’s about and why we made it. And to kind of keep it on that. That kind of core ethos.”

Letting out a nervous laugh, he responded, “I’m Team ‘It Ends With Us.’”

When asked how he was handling the dual lawsuits, Sklenar emphasized the film’s message, “I just want people to remember why we made the movie in the first place and what it stands for, and just keeping the focus on that.”

He also shared that the film held deep personal significance.

“I have someone very close to me who’s gone through what [Lively’s character Lily is] going through for a long time and I’ve been on the front lines helping her navigate that space,” he said at the time. “So that movie meant a lot to me and it means a lot to her. It was one of the reasons that me doing that movie gave her the strength to change her life.”

“It’s unfortunate that things get taken away from what the ethos of that thing is and it gets convoluted,” he added.

In a longer statement shared to Instagram earlier this year, Sklenar addressed online backlash and urged fans not to forget the intention behind the film, writing, “Colleen and the women of this cast stand for hope, perseverance, and for women choosing a better life for themselves.”

“Vilifying the women who put so much of their heart and soul into making this film because they believe so strongly in its message seems counterproductive and detracts from what this film is about. It is, in fact, the opposite of the point.”

He noted that the story had deeply personal resonance.

“Prior to my involvement in this film, she had not heard of the book. It was only then that she read it. She credits Colleen’s book and subsequently this film with saving her life,” the actor said.

“There isn’t a single person involved in the making of this film that was not aware of the responsibility we had in making this. A responsibility to all the women who have experienced generational trauma, domestic abuse, or struggle with looking in the mirror and loving who they see.”

Calling the film “a harsh reality check for the men who need to get their sh-t together and take responsibility,” Sklenar said it was “meant to inspire,” “validate,” “recognize,” and “instill hope.”