"It Ends With Us" Star Brandon Sklenar Addressed The Rumors Surrounding An On-Set Feud

Brandon Sklenar defended his It Ends with Us costar Blake Lively and book writer Colleen Hoover amid growing criticism of their approach to the movie.

Brandon plays Atlas, the love interest to Blake's Lily Bloom, as she navigates an abusive relationship with Ryle (played by director Justin Baldoni). Rumors of discontent on set began when some noticed that much of the cast did not follow Justin on Instagram or appear alongside him at press events.

Brandon was brought into the discussion surrounding the appropriateness of Blake's handling of the movie's difficult subject matter when an interview of them went viral. In it, Blake is asked how people affected by the issues in the movie might approach her. Blake sarcastically replied, "Like, asking for my address, or my phone number, or, like, location share?”

On Instagram, Brandon issued a statement about "all this stuff swirling online." He wrote, "Colleen and the women of this cast stand for hope, perseverance, and for women choosing a better life for themselves."

"Someone very close to me has been struggling with a relationship that has mirrored Lily's closely. I feel a responsibility to bring this to life and help spread that message further. Prior to my involvement in this film, she had not heard of the book," he continued. "She credits Colleens book and subsequently this film with saving her life."

"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 distracts from what this film is about," the 34-year-old said. "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."

Calling the movie "a harsh reality check for men who need to get their shit together," he continued, "Trust me when I tell you, there isn't a single person involved in the making of this film that was not aware of the responsibility we had in making this. A responsibility to all the women who have experienced generational trauma - Domestic abuse - Or struggle with looking in the mirror and loving who they see."

Noting that the movie is meant to "inspire," "validate," and "help people feel less alone," he added, "It is not meant to once again, make the women the 'bad guy,' let's move beyond that together."

You can read more about the depiction of abuse in It Ends with Us here.

If you or someone you know is in immediate danger as a result of domestic violence, call 911. For anonymous, confidential help, you can call the 24/7 National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE) or chat with an advocate via the website.