Brandon Sklenar has responded to speculation surrounding his choice of accessory at the 2025 Vanity Fair Oscars party. The It Ends With Us actor was seen wearing a pink floral brooch similar to the one worn by director Justin Baldoni at the film’s New York premiere, leading some to interpret it as a statement of support. Sklenar clarified that the matching pins were purely coincidental.
“Honestly, no. I wish I could say there was,” Sklenar told People at the SXSW premiere of his new film, The Drop, when asked if there was any hidden meaning behind the pin. “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 had posted about his Vanity Fair party look on Instagram, writing, “Long live the (brooch).” The designer of the piece, Anabela Chan, later shared images of both Sklenar and Baldoni wearing the brooch.
Beyond the fashion speculation, It Ends With Us remains at the center of an ongoing legal dispute between Baldoni and lead actress Blake Lively. Lively has accused Baldoni and others of sexual harassment and orchestrating a smear campaign against her. Baldoni responded with a countersuit against Lively, Ryan Reynolds, and publicist Leslie Sloane, alleging defamation and breach of contract.
Speaking at the Vanity Fair Oscars party, Sklenar addressed the controversy, urging audiences to focus on the film’s themes. “It’s a tough situation. I just hope everyone remembers what the movie is about and why we made it in the first place. It’s about love. It’s about supporting women in general and helping people through tough times,” he said.
Sklenar has previously expressed strong support for It Ends With Us and its message, referencing personal connections to the film’s themes of domestic violence. “I’ve got someone very, very close to me who has been in that situation that Lily [Blake Lively’s character] has been in for years, and I’ve been really on the front lines helping her. So it means a lot to me,” he said in a previous interview.
Before Lively’s allegations became public, Sklenar defended the film’s female cast members from online criticism regarding reported tensions between Lively and Baldoni. “Colleen and the women of this cast stand for hope, perseverance, and for women choosing a better life for themselves,” he wrote.
“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.”
With the legal battle ongoing, Sklenar remains hopeful that audiences will focus on the impact of the film rather than the controversy surrounding its production.
