IT Ends With Us actor Brandon Skelnar has sided with Blake Lively amid her rumored feud with its director and mounting controversial remarks.
Brandon, who played Blake’s childhood boyfriend in the much-discussed film, defended the star and said she was “villainized” on Instagram.
The actor, who was perceived by fans as rolling his eyes through many of Blake’s questionable press tour statements, broke his silence in a lengthy statement.
“I wanted to take a minute and address all this stuff swirling online,” Sklenar, 34, wrote via Instagram on Tuesday, August 20.
“Colleen [Hoover] 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.”
Since its release, It Ends With Us has made headlines of an unsavory variety and soured many fans on Blake.
For one, there’s the alleged spat between Blake, the film’s star (and producer) and director Justin Baldoni.
There was speculation that the two didn’t get along on set – she reportedly leaked a story about him asking about her weight – and had clashing directions about the movie.
The actress has been hit with endless criticism about misunderstanding the film’s core message about domestic violence.
During now-viral press tour videos, Blake spoke on her designer wardrobe (which she reportedly chose, along with its upbeat music) in the film and her new hair product line – instead of its subject matter.
“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. It’s been disheartening to see the amount of negativity being projected online,” Sklenar continued.
It Ends With Us drama
It Ends With Us is one of the most anticipated films of the year. It is based on the book of the same name by Colleen Hoover. However, now that it is out, there has been some tension among the cast.
- Blake Lively, Jenny Slate, and the cast unfollow Justin Baldoni (director and co-star) on Instagram
- The cast does not appear with Justin on red carpets for the movie
- Justin hesitates on Today before being asked about Blake
- Blake and Jenny dodge questions about Justin during interviews
- The Hollywood Reporter confirmed that there was a riff in post-production because there were two different cuts of the film- one by Justin and one by Blake (also the producer)
- Blake brought her husband, Ryan Reynolds, in to write a few scenes and dialogue
- However, a source told the outlet that the team agreed on the final cut
He went on to write that he knows someone who experienced a relationship similar to the one depicted in the film, and this person credits the book with “saving her life.”
He goes on to underscore the “responsibility” the cast and crew had to those who have suffered abuse.
“Ultimately it’s meant to spread love and awareness. It is not meant to once again, make the women the ‘bad guy,’ let’s move beyond that together,” he wrote.
Justin ended his message by asking readers to stop spreading hate online.
‘THANKS FOR THE MANSPLAIN’
The comments on Brandon’s post were turned off, but social media users took to other forums to slam the star for seemingly missing the point.
“Thanks for the mansplain about how women should feel,” one fan wrote under another Instagram post of the statement.
“We are not vilifying,” wrote another. “We are giving a honest reaction to a bad promotion. Don’t try to make this what it’s not.”
“It had nothing to do with the “behind the scenes drama”- it was her promoting her hair care line/drink biz instead of talking about/avoiding the seriousness of the subject,” wrote a third.
“Rightly pointing out how either of these women handled the topic of domestic violence isn’t vilifying anyone,” wrote a fourth.
“So now the actors trying to gaslight us? Taking cues from the DV handbook I see,” wrote a fifth.
“No, one is vilifying them because of the message of the film but because they are acting like it’s a rom com,” wrote a sixth.
“Just say you want to be in the next film and move on bro,” joked one more.
Aside from posting a domestic abuse hotline’s phone number on her Instagram story, Lively has not addressed any of the rumored drama.
Baldoni has avoided the subject as well but it’s been reported he’s hired a famous crisis PR firm since.
IT ENDS FOR BLAKE
In the summer box office hit, Blake stars as Lily Bloom, a florist who becomes embroiled in an abusive relationship with Ryle Kincaid, played by the film’s director Justin.
Central to the drama is the claim she is trivialising her new movie, which is about domestic violence, as if it were a summer romcom.
The story is an adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s best-selling 2016 novel, which is based on the lives of her own parents.
But critics say Blake’s “shallow” approach to the film during promo tours was insulting to survivors of domestic abuse.
In a reference to the actress’s haircare brand, The New York Times accused her of treating the film as “a tool . . . to sell her hair.”
Blake has also come under fire for urging her social media followers to dress in florals when they go to watch her film.
A comment on Instagram from a furious fan branding Blake “tone deaf” drew over 20,000 likes.
In addition, past interviews have resurfaced that have also painted Blake – wed to Ryan Reynolds – in a bad light.
One now-viral interview involved a reporter complimenting her “little bump” when Blake was eight months pregnant.
The Hollywood star’s response was a sharp “Congrats on your little bump,” to the reporter who has openly discussed her struggles with infertility.
