Brandon Sklenar came to the defense of It Ends With Us and his co-stars in the film amidst a flurry of rumors about behind-the-scenes conflict and criticism over how a movie about domestic abuse was marketed.
Sklenar stated that author Colleen Hoover, who wrote the novel the film is based on, and the women of the film’s cast — Blake Lively, Jenny Slate, Isabela Ferrer, and Amy Morton — “stand for hope, perseverance, and for women choosing a better life for themselves.”
He continued: “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. It is, in fact, the opposite of the point. 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.”
While It Ends With Us has been a legitimate box office success, its rollout has been marred in all kinds of drama. To start, there have been rumors of potential tensions between the cast and the film’s director/co-star Justin Baldoni. No official allegations have surfaced, but the speculation was rampant during the press tour, especially as Baldoni did a lot of solo interviews and Lively appeared with other members of the cast.
Speaking of that press tour, the film also garnered criticism for the way it was marketed as a flowery romance, in contrast to the film’s narrative of abuse. Sklenar even appeared in a promo video with Lively’s husband Ryan Reynolds, which was basically an extended bit about Reynolds becoming enamored with his wife’s co-star and trying to convince Sklenar to be his new dad (Hugh Jackman made a cameo, too).
Lively seemed to respond to this criticism last week, saying that while the film “covers domestic violence,” what makes it important is that her charter, Lily Blossom Bloom, “is not just a survivor, and she’s not just a victim.” Lively added: “And while those are huge things to be, they’re not her identity. She’s not defined by something that someone else did to her or an event that happened to her, even if it’s multiple events.”
In his new statement, Sklenar was adamant that everyone involved in the movie understood the gravity of the story they were telling. “A responsibility to all the women who have experienced generational trauma — domestic abuse — or struggle with looking in the mirror and loving who they are,” he wrote. “This movie is a harsh reality check for the men who need to get their shit together and take responsibility for themselves and their actions.”
Sklenar also mentioned someone close to him who’d been in an abusive relationship, read Hoover’s book, and credited it with “saving her life.” He went on to say he hoped the film had a similar effect: “This film is meant to inspire. It’s meant to validate and recognize. It’s meant to instill hope. It’s meant to build courage and help people feel less alone. 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.”
To those chattering online, Sklenar closed his statement by asking them to consider who that gossip is “helping.” He added: “Ask yourself if your options are based in any fact. Or if you simply want to be a part of something. Let’s be a part of something better together. A part of a new story being written for women and all people everywhere.”
