At UFC 324 held on January 24 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Brandon Sklenar was asked about the ongoing Blake Lively legal feud, involving unsealed text messages that have drawn him into the dispute. The 35-year-old actor declined to comment, smiling and shaking his head when reporters questioned him about clarifying the messages released amid the lawsuit between former co-stars Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni.
Background of the Dispute Between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni
Blake Lively, who portrayed Lily in the film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel It Ends With Us, is embroiled in a legal battle with Justin Baldoni, who directed the movie and also acted as Ryle. Brandon Sklenar played the role of Atlas. The conflict escalated after Lively filed a complaint in December 2024 with the California Civil Rights Department accusing Baldoni of creating a hostile work environment during the film’s production. She also filed a lawsuit alleging sexual harassment and other claims, while Baldoni responded with a countersuit that was dismissed last year. Both parties are set to appear in court this spring.
Details Revealed in Unsealed Text Exchanges Involving Sklenar
Sklenar’s involvement became public after over 180 documents were unsealed, including text exchanges between him and Lively. These messages showed Sklenar expressing support for Lively while discussing Baldoni and mentioning his own role in the Paramount+ show 1923, where he played Spencer Dutton from 2022 to 2025. The conversations revealed frustrations about the film’s two versions and Baldwin’s conduct during production.
In one message, Lively informed Sklenar that
Justin is emailing today saying he took some things from my cut so I felt acknowledged and can move forward and he’s locking his cut. Before the bake off,
calling Baldoni bats*** and accusing him of watching her version prematurely. She added,
He wasn’t authorized to watch my cut yet,
continuing,
But went into the avid to watch and then to take things from it.
Sklenar responded with reassurance,
Well it’ll still be yours in the end.
Lively emphasized that she did not want a Frankenstein cut combining parts of her version and Baldoni’s, insisting,
It will be his or mine,
and In their entirety.
Sklenar’s Candid Messages and Lively’s Frustration With Baldoni
Further text messages attributed to Sklenar showed his anger toward Baldoni’s actions:
Thank god. It’ll be yours. Can’t believe he did that. I mean I can. He’s definitely scrambling. Also totally f***ing himself for any future work.
Lively indicated that Sklenar may only be aware of part of what transpired, saying he
would’ve continued to let [Baldoni] take credit for everything
if Baldoni had not caused problems during the film’s production.
She also shared her thoughts on Baldoni’s career prospects, declaring,
He would’ve been handed a career. He would’ve been f***ed on his next job, but he at least would have been a big sucesss [sic],
and adding,
And he’ll still hit. But the word is out. And I’ve been protecting it from getting out bc all I want to do is focus on the work and not be pulled into the f***ing mess they make. But they [wreak] havoc everywhere they go. And everyone sees it. Then they come to me.
The Impact of the Feud on Careers and the Upcoming Court Case
The disclosures in the legal conflict cast a spotlight on behind-the-scenes tensions during the making of It Ends With Us, with serious allegations affecting the reputations of those involved. Sklenar’s refusal to comment publicly leaves uncertainty about his full role or knowledge of the situation. The lawsuit between Lively and Baldoni is expected to proceed in the spring, drawing more attention to the dispute and potentially affecting all parties’ professional futures.
The outcome of the court proceedings may clarify the claims of hostile work environment and address the allegations of retaliation, shaping how similar disputes are handled in the entertainment industry going forward. Meanwhile, the released texts reveal personal frustrations and alliances among the actors caught in the controversy, which continues to generate significant public and media interest.
