Actor and director Justin Baldoni has penned a moving letter to survivors of domestic abuse amid the ongoing drama involving It Ends With Us co-star Blake Lively, with fans praising him for his “empathetic and responsible” efforts.
The 40-year-old Hollywood actor made headlines after starring and directing in the film based on the book of the same name by Colleen Hoover. The film is about Lily Bloom (played by Blake) who is going through an abusive relationship.
Although It Ends With Us, which hit theaters on August 9, was eagerly anticipated by film buffs and book lovers, the film sparked controversy amid growing rumors of a feud between Blake and Justin.
As Justin’s co-star Blake faces fierce criticism online for not talking enough about domestic abuse, the 40-year-old has let victims know he’s there to support them on their difficult journey in a moving letter shared with Instagram.
In partnership with Survivor Love Letter, an organization that sends letters to victims of domestic violence, he expressed his solidarity by telling the victims they were “inspiring” and sending them “gratitude, strength and love.”
Actor and director Justin Baldoni has written a moving letter to survivors of domestic violence amid the ongoing drama involving It Ends With Us co-star Blake Lively
The 40-year-old has found herself in the spotlight after starring and directing in the film, which follows Lily Bloom (played by Blake) through an abusive relationship
The powerful letter read: ‘Dear Survivor, You embody resilience and courage, qualities that shine even on the darkest days. In the tapestry of your life, every thread tells a story of endurance, strength, and hope.
‘Every step forward you take, no matter how small, is a declaration of your indomitable spirit and an inspiration to others. Every step forward you take, no matter how small, is a declaration of your indomitable spirit and an inspiration to others.
“You may not always see the impact you have, but your journey encourages and motivates, lighting the way for those of us still searching for the light. While I can never fully understand your pain and all that you have endured, I want you to know that you are never alone in this fight. We are with you.”
At the end of the letter, Justin encouraged the survivors to continue to “thrive,” while sending them a wave of “love and strength.”
He added: “You don’t just survive; you thrive, and in your flourishing you inspire us all. May your journey forward be filled with moments of deep peace. And may you remember that as you fight for joy… you set us all free.
‘I send you gratitude, strength and love.’
The encouraging letter struck a chord and people on the internet praised the actor for his statements.
A fan wrote: ‘This is the right way to approach a project about domestic violence. You genuinely care about the victims and it shows.’
In partnership with Survivor Love Letter, an organization that places letters addressed to victims of domestic violence, he showed his support
The encouraging letter struck a chord as people online applauded the actor for his statements.
Another user added: ‘I don’t think you understand how much your words mean to me and so many, Justin. Thank you.’
Someone else commented: ‘Thank you for being so empathetic and responsible in your promotional efforts for this film. It speaks volumes about your character and your desire to make a difference for survivors.’
“This survivor couldn’t believe how much I had to read this. A pool of tears. But thank you for this,” said another.
Blake has faced criticism over the past month for her promotion of the film, amid rumors of a split with Justin, who plays her on-screen love interest. The actors worked separately on promotional work for the summer hit and are said to have not spoken to each other.
The drama began with rumors of tension between the stars after Blake reportedly felt like Justin was “fat-shaming” her when he asked his personal trainer for advice on how to protect his back during a scene where he had to lift her.
That animosity appears to have spilled over into post-production and publicity, with Blake now being accused of “bullying” Justin into releasing his first major film.
Additionally, the former Gossip Girl host has faced a lot of criticism for her “mean girl” behavior and past comments in multiple interviews that have resurfaced over the years, including her “demeaning” words to a reporter.
Over the past month, Blake has faced criticism for the way she promoted the film, amid allegations of a high-profile split from Justin
That hostility appears to have spilled over into post-production and publicity, to the extent that Blake is now being accused of “bullying” Justin out of his first major film.
Amid all the drama, award-winning journalist Kjersti posted the old interview to her YouTube channel, which she titled, “The Blake Lively Interview That Made Me Want to Quit My Job.”
“First of all, congratulations on your little belly,” Kjersti, the founder of Content Now TV, said enthusiastically during the conversation.
“Congratulations on your little belly,” Blake replied, as the interviewer giggled nervously.
After the moment went viral, Kjersti exclusively told DailyMail.com that Blake’s reaction was extra hurtful because she can’t get pregnant.
‘[Her comment] almost left me paralyzed. To be honest, it hurts because I clearly wasn’t pregnant and I could never get pregnant, so for me that comment was like a bullet,” she shared.
‘I didn’t know how to react. I felt very uncomfortable during the interview and all I wanted to do was leave and get out of there as quickly as possible.
“I felt like a complete failure. I kept replaying the interview in my head, trying to figure out what I had said or done to make them behave the way they did. It made no sense.”
She said Blake made her feel “denigrated and ignored” throughout the conversation, and that it ultimately left her questioning whether she “ever wanted to do these types of interviews again.”
A source previously told DailyMail.com that Justin and Blake may never work together again after their It Ends With Us feud
Despite the drama, the film has grossed over $180 million worldwide, marking a huge profit for a film that cost just $25 million to make.
A source previously told DailyMail.com that Justin and Blake may never work together again following their It Ends With Us feud.
“It’s hard to imagine Justin wanting to work with Blake – or vice versa – after all this bad blood. Whatever started this feud, there is certainly no clear rapprochement between the two,” the industry insider said.
It Ends With Us has already grossed over $180 million worldwide. That’s a huge profit for a film that cost just $25 million to make. Normally, that would lead to a ready-made sequel.
But Colleen has sided with Blake, which is a problem because Justin’s company has already bought the rights to It Starts With Us, insiders say.
Blake is said to be in tears over her new image as a mean girl and is desperate to find a way to make things right.