On August 20, 2024, Brandon Sklenar publicly objected to online attacks on the women behind It Ends With Us, saying they distracted from the film’s intended message. His post was widely read as a defense of Blake Lively and the other women involved, but it did not confirm the rumors of a cast feud or settle what may have happened behind the scenes. Lively and director-co-star Justin Baldoni later settled their civil dispute in May 2026; the terms were not disclosed, and the settlement was not a finding on either side’s allegations.
What did Brandon Sklenar say about Blake Lively?
Sklenar, who played Atlas in the 2024 film, posted a statement on Instagram on August 20, 2024. In the statement, reproduced by The Independent, he criticized the online negativity directed at the women who made the film and argued that vilifying them undermined its purpose.
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“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.”
He also wrote, “Colleen and the women of this cast stand for hope, perseverance, and for women choosing a better life for themselves.” He asked readers to consider whether their online opinions were based on fact and who was helped by spreading them, then concluded: “Lead with Love and please be kind.”
#1 Best Overall
- IT ENDS WITH US tells the empowering story of Lily Bloom. Grappling with a painful past, Lily embarks on a new life in Boston and opens her own flower shop. After falling in love with Ryle, Lily begins to see sides of him that remind her of her dangerous father. With the support of her friends and allies, Lily must find her own strength to break the pattern or the pattern will break her.
Sklenar said the story had personal meaning for someone close to him whose relationship mirrored Lily’s. According to his account, that person credited Colleen Hoover’s book and the film with saving her life; this was a personal account from Sklenar, not an independently verified finding.
Was Sklenar defending Blake Lively?
Yes, in the broad sense that his post defended the women involved in the film against online vilification, and it was understood as support for Lively. But he did not use the statement to verify a feud, endorse a specific account of backstage events, or declare what had happened between cast members.
Rank #2
- dvd, blu ray, film, movie
He made that distinction explicit: “What may or may not have happened behind the scenes does not and hopefully should not detract from what our intentions were in making this film.” His emphasis was on the film’s intended message and the treatment of its women cast members, not on resolving speculation about production relationships.
What were the It Ends With Us feud rumors?
During the film’s release and public appearances, online observers speculated about tension between Lively and director and co-star Justin Baldoni. TIME’s account describes observations that contributed to that speculation, while cautioning that they did not prove the situation had been manufactured as a marketing strategy. Rumors circulated; those observations did not establish a coordinated publicity plan or prove particular claims about what happened behind the scenes.
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Rank #3
- Blake Lively, Blu-ray Movies, Blu-ray TV Shows
Some viewers also criticized Lively’s promotional approach as insufficiently serious for a film about domestic abuse. That was audience criticism, not a universal consensus. The online arguments around promotion and cast dynamics should not be treated as proof of a feud.
Why the film’s subject mattered to his statement
It Ends With Us is a 2024 adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s 2016 novel, the source material for the film. TIME describes the story of Lily and Ryle as depicting emotional, physical, and sexual abuse. Sklenar presented the film as intended to inspire, validate, build courage, and raise awareness; those were his stated intentions as a participant, not an independent assessment of the film’s effect on viewers.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What happened with Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni?
On May 4, 2026, the Associated Press reported that Lively and Baldoni settled their civil dispute, averting a scheduled trial. The AP report said the settlement terms were undisclosed. It described Lively’s allegations and Baldoni’s denials as the opposing parties’ positions; the settlement itself did not establish either side’s account as fact. The AP also reported that a federal judge had dismissed some claims before the settlement.
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