Brandon Sklenar is speaking out in support of Blake Lively after she sued Justin Baldoni for đâŻđual harassment
Brandon Sklenar is speaking out in support of Blake Lively following her đâŻđual harassment complaint filed against their It Ends with Us director and costar Justin Baldoni.
Sklenar, 34, who starred in the film with Lively and Baldoni, shared on his Instagram Stories on Monday, Dec. 23, a screenshot of the complaint filed by the actress on Dec. 20.
He included a link to the New York Times‘ archive of the legal documents, writing, âFOR THE LOVE OF GOD READ THIS.â Sklenar also tagged the Instagram account of Lively, 37, adding a red heart emoji.
Lively’s complaint, which is a precursor to filing a discrimination lawsuit in California, was filed against Baldoni, his production company Wayfarer Studios, its co-founder Steve Sarowitz, It Ends with Us lead producer Jamey Heath and those named in an alleged effort to tarnish Livelyâs reputation via an extensive retaliatory smear campaign: Jed Wallace, Melissa Nathan and Jennifer Abel.
Filed months after rumors of behind-the-scenes strife between Baldoni, 40, and the cast of the Colleen Hoover adaptation, the complaint alleges that Lively âhas suffered from grief, fear, trauma, and extreme anxiety” due to Baldoniâs alleged actions, which included âinvasive, unwelcome, unprofessional and đâŻđually inappropriate behavior.â
Bryan Freedman, a lawyer for Baldoni, told PEOPLE that Livelyâs allegations are “false, outrageous and intentionally salacious with an intent to publicly hurt.”
In a statement shared on Monday, Dec. 23, Freedman addressed the claims of a smear campaign, saying that “audiences found Livelyâs own actions, interviews and marketing during the promotional tour distasteful.â
It Ends with Us stars Sklenar as the older version of Atlas Corrigan, former flame of Lively’s Lily Bloom, a woman embarking on a relationship with Ryle Kincaid (played by Baldoni) that goes from romantic to abusive.
In August, the 1923 star posted an impassioned note to his Instagram, asking It Ends with Us fans to âbe a part of something better together,” shouting out Hoover and his castmates, including Lively, Isabela Ferrer and Jenny Slate.
The post, which Sklenar edited Monday to include only a heart emoji as its caption, previously read, “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.”
Sklenar then told Access Hollywood in September that the negativity surrounding the film âjust seemed silly to me,â adding, “It’s an important film for so many women and so many survivors of domestic abuse and that’s what it’s all about, is making people feel heard and strong and loved.”
In a statement to TODAY, It Ends With Us star Jenny Slate also said she was standing by Lively’s side.
âAs Blake Livelyâs castmate and friend, I voice my support as she takes action against those reported to have planned and carried out an attack on her reputation,â Slate â who plays the sister of Baldoni’s character â wrote. âBlake is a leader, loyal friend and a trusted source of emotional support for me and so many who know and love her.â
She continued: âWhat has been revealed about the attack on Blake is terribly dark, disturbing, and wholly threatening. I commend my friend, I admire her bravery, and I stand by her side.â
Others voicing their support for Lively following her legal action in recent days are her sister Robyn, A Simple Favor director Paul Feig, actress Amber Heard and Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants costars: America Ferrera, Alexis Bledel and Amber Tamblyn.
In addition, on Monday, Sony, the studio behind the film, issued a statement in support of Lively.
“We have previously expressed our support for Blake in connection with her work on and for the film. We fully and firmly reiterate that support today,” the statement read. “Further, we strongly condemn any reputational attacks on her. Any such attacks have no place in our business or in a civil society.”