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"It Ends With Us" star Brandon Sklenar has addressed speculation surrounding his fashion choice after wearing an identical brooch to the one previously sported by his co-star and the film's director, Justin Baldoni. The actor's wardrobe selection at the Vanity Fair Oscars party earlier this month raised eyebrows amid the ongoing legal battle between Baldoni and fellow cast member Blake Lively.
"That was total happenstance," Sklenar told People in a March 9 interview. "I woke up in the morning and saw an article and was like, 'Oh damn.' I literally had no idea. I had an idea that I wanted to wear a floral brooch of some kind and that was the color I liked best."
When pressed about whether there was any hidden meaning behind his choice of the pink David Yurman floral pin, Sklenar emphatically denied any ulterior motive. "Honestly no," he stated. "I wish I could say there was."
The accidental twinning comes during a contentious period for the "It Ends With Us" cast. The film adaptation of Colleen Hoover's bestselling novel has been overshadowed by serious legal conflicts that began in December when Lively filed a civil complaint against Baldoni.
Lively's complaint alleged sexual harassment on set and claimed Baldoni and his associates "embarked on a sophisticated press and digital plan in retaliation" after she voiced concerns about misconduct. The document detailed accusations of "invasive, unwelcome, unprofessional and sexually inappropriate behavior" by Baldoni and Wayfarer CEO Jamey Heath.
The legal situation escalated rapidly after The New York Times published details of Lively's complaint. Baldoni responded with two counteractions – a $250 million lawsuit against the newspaper and a separate $400 million suit targeting Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and their publicist.
Sklenar initially showed support for Lively when her complaint first surfaced. In December, he shared a link to the document on social media, tagging Lively with a red heart emoji and urging his followers, "For the love of god read this."
In recent weeks, however, the actor has maintained a more neutral stance. When asked during a CBS Mornings interview whether he was "Team Blake" or "Team Justin," Sklenar replied that he was "Team It Ends With Us," adding, "I just want people to remember why we made the movie in the first place and what it stands for, just keeping the focus on that."
The legal proceedings between Baldoni and Lively are scheduled to begin in March 2026, though the trial judge has threatened to advance the date if the dispute continues to play out publicly.
Throughout this contentious period, Sklenar has consistently redirected attention to the film's central message about domestic abuse awareness, reminding fans and media alike of its social importance despite the behind-the-scenes conflict.
