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Blake Lively's Co-Star Brandon Sklenar Breaks Silence on 'It Ends With Us' Controversy
Brandon Sklenar is showing his support for his castmate.
In a lengthy document filed last week with the California Civil Rights Department and obtained by E! News, Blake Lively accused her It Ends With Us costar and director Justin Baldoni of sexual harassment and spearheading a smear campaign as a retaliation for raising concerns about his behavior on set of the film.
Now, Brandon—who starred as Atlas Corrigan in the Colleen Hoover film adaptation alongside Blake (who played protagonist Lily Bloom) and Justin (Ryle Kincaid)—is breaking his silence on the accusations.
In a message posted to his Instagram Story Dec. 23, the 1923 actor shared a link to a New York Times article that includes the entirety of Blake's legal complaint alongside a message, saying, "For the love of god read this."
And to finish off his supportive note, Brandon tagged Blake's social media handle and added a heart emoji next to it.
Brandon isn't the only member of the It Ends With Us cast and crew to speak out on Blake's complaint, which accuses Justin of sexually harassing her on the set of their film and also alleges that, after she raised her concerns about him to their production team, he retaliated against her by working with a crisis PR team to try to destroy her reputation.
On the day the complaint was made public, Colleen—who, in addition to writing the It Ends With Us book series, served as an executive producer for the movie—shared her own message heartwarming message for Blake.
"You have been nothing but honest, kind, supportive and patient since the day we met," the author wrote on her Instagram Stories Dec. 21, alongside a photo of herself and the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants actress hugging in a theater. "Thank you for being exactly the human that you are. Never change. Never wilt."
Additionally, Gwyneth Paltrow, Blake's A Simple Favor director Paul Feig and her Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants costars Amber Tamblyn, America Ferrera and Alexis Bleidel have all publicly showed support for her.
John Nacion/Variety via Getty Images
As for Justin, he has denied all the accusations against him in a Dec. 21 statement made to The New York Times through his attorney Bryan Freedman, who described the complaint as "categorically false" and "yet another desperate attempt to 'fix' her negative reputation which was garnered from her own remarks and actions during the campaign for the film."
Read on for more stars who have reacted to Blake's legal complaint...
Instagram / Colleen Hoover
Colleen Hoover
After Blake Lively filed a legal complaint against It Ends With Us costar and director Justin Baldoni, accusing him of sexual harassment on the film's set and for later taking part in a smear campaign against her—claims that he has since denied via his lawyer—Colleen Hoover, who wrote the book that the movie is based on, shared a message to the actress.
"@blakelively, you have been nothing but honest, kind, supportive and patient since the day we met," Colleen wrote on her Instagram Stories Dec. 21. "Thank you for being exactly the human that you are. Never change. Never wilt."
Robyn Lively
Blake's sister, fellow actress Robyn Lively, also weighed in.
"I urge everyone to read The NY Times article in its entirety," Robyn wrote on Instagram Dec. 23, referencing the NYT piece that details Blake's complaint filed with the California Civil Rights Department. "It calls out those behind the ruthless and nefarious smear campaign that aimed to take down my sister."
The Teen Witch star went on to note that it also "highlights" what Blake allegedly experienced on the set of It Ends With Us.
Jeff Spicer/Getty Images
Paul Feig
Blake's A Simple Favor director also came to her defense, writing on X Dec. 22, "I’ve now made two movies with Blake and all I can say is she’s one of the most professional, creative, collaborative, talented and kind people I’ve ever worked with. She truly did not deserve any of this smear campaign against her. I think it’s awful she was put through this."
Charles Sykes/Bravo via Getty Images
Amy Schumer
The comedian showed her support for the Gossip Girl alum, writing on her Instagram Story Dec. 22, "I believe Blake."
Joseph Agustin
Gwyneth Paltrow
Shortly after Blake's complaint was made public, the Goop founder shared a photo of The Town star's hair company, Blake Brown, on her Instagram Story, writing, "Just added to my Christmas wish list."
Instagram / America Ferrera
Alexis Bledel, Amber Tamblyn & America Ferrera
Blake's BFFs and Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants costars penned a joint message, posted to Instagram Dec. 22, stating they "stand with her in solidarity as she fights back against the reported campaign waged to destroy her reputation."
Noam Galai/WireImage
Bart Johnson
Bart Johnson shared an impassioned defense of his sister-in-law in the comments section of a New York Times Instagram post detailing the filing and its own investigation into the behind-the-scenes turmoil.
“Her complained were filed during the filming,” the High School Musical alum, who is married to Blake's sister Robyn, wrote. “On record. Long before the public conflict. The cast unfollowed him for a reason. Read this article before spitting ignorance. His PR team was stellar. Gross and disgusting but highly effective. Read the article, their text message exchanges and his PR campaign strategy to bury her by any means necessary. No one is with out faults. But the public got played."
Ernesto Ruscio/Getty Images
Amber heard
Days after Lively's filing was made public, Amber Heard reflected on her own experience facing relentless vitriol online amid ex Johnny Depp's defamation trial against her.
“Social media is the absolute personification of the classic saying ‘A lie travels halfway around the world before truth can get its boots on,’” the Aquaman star expressed in a statement to NBC News Dec. 23. “I saw this firsthand and up close. It’s as horrifying as it is destructive.”
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