Blake Lively, known for her role in the summer hit “It Ends With Us,” took to Instagram this Tuesday to address the film’s focus on domestic violence. Sharing a clip from a BBC red carpet interview, Lively expressed her gratitude to audiences who have supported the film’s portrayal of complex female experiences.
“Thank you to everyone who came to show that people WANT to see films about women and the multitudes we hold,” she wrote. “We are so proud of ‘It Ends With Us,’ and we celebrate getting this crucial message out there.”
In a subsequent post, Lively highlighted the severity of intimate partner violence, sharing a link to the National Domestic Violence Hotline. She noted, “1 in 4 women aged 18 and older in the U.S. alone have faced severe physical violence by an intimate partner.
Intimate partner violence impacts all genders, affecting more than 12 million people annually in the U.S. Everyone deserves relationships free from domestic violence.”
This message followed criticism of the film’s marketing campaign, which featured a “wear your florals” theme linked to Lively’s character, a florist. Critics argued that this lighthearted motif was inappropriate given the film’s serious subject matter.
Based on Colleen Hoover’s 2016 bestseller, “It Ends With Us” depicts Lily Bloom (Lively) and her tumultuous relationship with Ryle Kincaid (Justin Baldoni). The film explores the dark transformation of their marriage into violence, inspired by Hoover’s personal experiences.
Recent discussions about the film have included speculation about discord between Baldoni and the cast, sparked by social media unfollowing and Baldoni’s solo appearance at the premiere.
Despite this, “It Ends With Us” has achieved remarkable box office success, grossing $50 million during a typically slow summer period. Positive reviews, including one from Variety’s Owen Gleiberman, have praised Lively’s performance, highlighting her “acutely aware and slightly tremulous radiance.”