Brandon Sklenar’s floral brooch was not a message of support for Justin Baldoni.
“That was a total happenstance,” Sklenar, 34, said during an interview with People on Sunday, March 9. “I woke up in the morning and saw an article and I was like, ‘Oh, damn.’ I literally had no idea.”
Sklenar stepped out at the 2025 Vanity Fair Oscar Party earlier this month wearing a black suit adorned with a pink David Yurman floral pin. Eagle-eyed fans were quick to point out that Baldoni, 41, had previously worn the same accessory at the It Ends With Us premiere in August 2024. (Sklenar and Baldoni starred as Atlas and Ryle, respectively, in the movie based on the Colleen Hoover novel of the same name which details an abusive relationship.)
“I had an idea I wanted to wear, like, a floral brooch of some kind and that was the color that I liked the best,” Sklenar further explained on Sunday while attending the SXSW Film & TV Festival in Austin, Texas. “And, lo and behold, someone also wore that prior to me wearing it.”
Brandon Sklenar Laughs Off ‘Team Blake’ vs. ‘Team Justin’ Question
The apparent fashion faux pas came amid Baldoni’s ongoing legal battle with It Ends With Us costar Blake Lively.
Lively filed a complaint against Baldoni, who directed the film, in December 2024, accusing the actor of sexual harassment and fostering a hostile work environment. Baldoni has vehemently denied all allegations and subsequently filed two lawsuits of his own.
@people #BrandonSklenar is setting the record straight about wearing the same pin as #JustinBaldoni earlier this month. #SXSW #Drop #1923 #ItEndswithUs
He first sued The New York Times — which published Lively’s initial complaint in full — for $250 million. A New York judge has since granted to pause the suit after the newspaper filed a motion for dismissal. Baldoni’s second lawsuit was filed against Lively, 37, her husband, Ryan Reynolds, and publicist Leslie Sloane, seeking $400 million in damages. Last month, Sloane requested to remove her name from the suit.
Baldoni and Lively are set to face off in court beginning in March 2026. However, the trial judge has threatened to move up the date if their issues continue to play out in the public eye.
Brandon Sklenar Breaks Silence on Alleged ‘It Ends With Us’ Cast Drama
Sklenar, meanwhile, has made an effort to stay out of the drama. He initially showed his support for Lively by posting the New York Times article detailing her complaint via Instagram. Since then, he’s frequently reminded fans about the central message of It Ends With Us.
“It’s a tough situation. I just hope everyone remembers what the movie is about and why we made it in the first place,” Sklenar told The Hollywood Reporter earlier this month. “It’s about love and it’s about supporting women in general and helping people through tough times. That movie has helped so many people, and I just want people to remember what it’s about and why we made it.”
