Blake Lively’s BTS Influence on The Housemaid: How Did Brandon Sklenar Support Blake Against Justin Baldoni?
Blake Lively is making her presence felt both on-screen and off. Last December, her The Housemaid co-star Michele Morrone quietly took her side amid her s*xual harassment and retaliation claims against It Ends with Us director and co-star Justin Baldoni. Speaking on Instagram Story, Morrone said, referring to discussions he had with Lively on the A Simple Favor 2 set:
It’s usually not my thing to make those kind of videos, but I think it’s time to stand up for a person that I really love and this person is Blake Lively. I felt something was wrong, and I felt the pain.
Linking to The New York Times breakdown of the complaint, he wrote, “I’m really tired to see those kind of cruel and bad comments about her without knowing the situation,” ending with a warm note:
Blake, I love you so much. Keep it up, and we’re going to see each other very, very soon.
Meanwhile, Lively’s influence extends behind the scenes. When director Paul Feig was casting The Housemaid, Lively reportedly championed her It Ends with Us co-star, Brandon Sklenar, repeatedly saying how remarkable he was. Paul Feig informed E! News:
She just kept going on and on about how great he is. And I met him and was like, ‘Yes, you are great and I love you.’
The Housemaid, which will premiere on December 19, 2025, also stars Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried.
Brandon Sklenar Comments on Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni Case
Brandon Sklenar in It Ends With Us | image: Sony Pictures
Brandon Sklenar has addressed the It Ends with Us legal drama with careful honesty. Asked at the Vanity Fair Oscars afterparty whether he is Team Blake or Team Justin, he said (via The Hollywood Reporter):
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I mean, I just… 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.
Even on Instagram, he shared the New York Times article on Lively’s complaint with a red heart and her handle, urging followers:
For the love of god read this.
In The Housemaid, Sklenar plays Andrew Winchester, the seemingly perfect husband of Nina (Amanda Seyfried).
Blake Lively Seems Firm on Not Settling Justin Baldoni Case
Blake Lively remains resolute in her legal battle with Justin Baldoni. In a Dec. 4 filing obtained by USA TODAY, her legal team insisted she deserves her “day in court” after Baldoni’s counsel filed a motion for judgment without a jury. The filing detailed that Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios’ CEO controlled almost every aspect of Lively’s work life, from schedules to on-set management, leaving her little room to maneuver.
The allegations include s*xual misconduct and a smear campaign, which Baldoni denies. Per Page Six, court documents also revealed tense private exchanges, including Baldoni’s comments about circumcision and his assertion that Lively was playing the victim using “the Taylor Swift playbook.”
The judge dismissed Baldoni’s extortion counterclaim in June 2025, leaving the case on track for a March 9, 2026, trial. Even as legal pressures mount, Lively’s influence remains unshaken. What’s your take on this? Comment below!
The Housemaid will premiere in theaters on December 19, 2025.
