Actor Justin Baldoni posted a message for domestic violence survivors on his Instagram account stating, “You embody resilience and courage, qualities that shine bright even on the darkest days.” Baldoni stars in a new movie about domestic violence, “It Ends With Us,” and addressed the issue amid criticisms of his co-star Blake Lively, who was accused of understating it during promotional tours. Some critics say promotional events were almost upbeat, and the film was promoted as a romantic comedy rather than a serious analysis of a dark topic.
Survivor Yesenia Puente Bravo said, “It was portrayed more so as a chick flick. And that’s not what it was about.”
“It Ends With Us” premiered at American box offices on August 9 and was met with a mixed but largely positive response. Based on the best-selling novel by Colleen Hoover, the film follows the life of Lily Bloom, a young woman who falls in love with a dashing doctor, played by Baldoni. Despite appearances of bliss, behind closed doors, the relationship takes a dark turn and becomes abusive, mirroring the experiences of the primary character’s childhood. Bloom grew up with an abusive father who physically assaulted her mother.
Critics have praised the film’s examination of how harmful practices and struggles often pass from generation to generation, with children who grow up in violent households frequently choosing violent partners as adults.
Psychiatrists suggest there are several reasons for the continuation of abusive patterns in generational relationships, including the connection that children in violent homes make between love and abuse. Experts say children who witness abuse between parents simply believe that dysfunction is a demonstration of how loving relationships are conducted.
Additionally, people who grow up in abusive or violent homes tend to develop low self-esteem and believe themselves unworthy of a loving bond. Regarding victims of violence who become abusers, experts say this is a way for them to regain control and to express anger at the treatment they have endured. Psychologists also note that children who have suffered sexual abuse can go on to become abusers because that is the only form of intimacy they can relate to.
