Brandon Sklenar recently addressed the attention he received after wearing a pin similar to one seen on Justin Baldoni amidst Baldoni’s ongoing legal conflict with Blake Lively.
Last December, Lively filed a lawsuit against her It Ends with Us co-star Baldoni, accusing him of sexual harassment and attempting to tarnish her reputation.
Baldoni’s representatives have firmly refuted these claims and have counter-sued for $400 million, while Lively’s team continues to deny the allegations made against her.
Sklenar, who collaborated with Lively and Baldoni on It Ends with Us, attracted attention at the 2025 Vanity Fair Oscars Party when he appeared wearing a floral brooch.
Eagle-eyed fans noticed the brooch was identical to the one Baldoni wore at the movie’s New York City premiere in August the previous year.
One fan on social media asked, “Isn’t this the same broach as JB at premier? Is this a stand in solidarity?” Another remarked, “Hmm?? Same one.”
In an interview with People, Sklenar was questioned about whether his choice of brooch held any special significance. He replied, “Honestly, no. I wish I could say there was. That was a total happenstance.
“I woke up in the morning and saw an article and I was like, ‘Oh, damn.’ I literally had no idea.
“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. And, lo and behold, someone also wore that prior to me wearing it.”
Sklenar has expressed his desire to stay out of discussions surrounding the dispute between Lively and Baldoni, as well as any perceived allegiances.
Speaking on CBS Mornings last month, he stated, “I just want people to remember why we made the movie in the first place and what it stands for, and just keeping the focus on that.
“Like that movie meant so much to me, and I have someone very, very close to me in my life who’s gone through what Lily’s going through for a long time, and I’ve been on the frontlines of helping her navigate that space.”
In the past, Sklenar seemed to criticize those attacking Lively.
When Lively’s lawsuit first emerged, Sklenar took to Instagram, writing, “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.
“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.”