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Refusing to let the drama around his film It Ends With Us eclipse its message, Justin Baldoni posted a heartfelt message to victims of domestic violence on Instagram, in what he called a #survivorloveletter. The 40-year-old actor and director wrote to survivors “You embody resilience and courage, qualities that shine bright even on the darkest days. […] Every step forward you take, no matter how small, is a declaration of your unyielding spirit and an inspiration to others.”
The actor and director has been praised by fans for speaking about domestic violence when promoting the film, and told The Hollywood Reporter in a red carpet interview that it was very emotionally draining to perform the role of an abusive husband.
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Still, Baldoni felt it was important to tell speak directly to survivors and to tell their stories. His Instagram message continued, “While I can never fully understand your pain and all you have endured, I want you to know that you are never alone in this fight. We are with you. You are not just surviving; you are thriving, and in your thriving, you inspire us all.”
The film is a romantic drama starring Blake Lively and Baldoni about a woman whose father abused her mother, and how she finds the cycle of abuse repeating in her own marriage. The movie has received a 91% positive audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. But it’s the press tour, the marketing, and the general drama surrounding the movie that has kept audiences talking.
Lively, 37, who plays romantic lead Lily Bloom, has been criticized for the way she has promoted the film, which has led to increased scrutiny on all her press interactions. An awkward interview from the 2016 press tour for Cafe Society has led to particularly harsh social media backlash.
Meanwhile, rumors have also swirled that Baldoni was “borderline abusive” to his co-stars on set, though few details have surfaced. Fans have also theorized that creative differences caused a falling out between the stars.
Baldoni has reportedly hired a crisis PR manager to help handle the controversy, but has not addressed it directly. Instead, it seems he is focusing on the intent behind the movie and the novel on which it was based, which was to spread awareness about domestic violence. Baldoni’s production company, Wayfarer Studios, has a partnership with No More, a charitable organization dedicated to ending domestic violence. “Together, we are committed to using IT ENDS WITH US as a catalyst to increase dialogue, raise awareness, and inspire actions to help end domestic and sexual violence while promoting healthy relationships,” the charity wrote on their website.