Actress Blake Lively is speaking out in defense of the movie “It Ends With Us” and its nuanced portrayal of domestic violence. The movie, based on a bestselling novel, tells the story of a woman who falls in love with a doctor but then faces domestic abuse in their relationship.
After the film earned $50 million at the box office, some critics argued its marketing did not match the serious domestic violence themes. The ads encouraged wearing floral outfits to see the movie. Lively addressed these concerns in an interview, saying on Instagram that the film shows “she is not just a survivor and she’s not just a victim…she’s not defined by something that someone else did to her.”
Lively believes the movie realistically depicts the female experience of both high and low moments. She acknowledged the gravity of domestic violence too. Shortly after her initial social media post, Lively shared facts about the high rates of intimate partner violence in the U.S. and information for the National Domestic Violence Hotline.
According to Variety, there were also rumors of on-set tension between Lively and the director after they stopped following each other on social media. This coincided with the director attending the premiere alone while Lively posed with other cast members.
Despite some controversies, reviews have praised Lively’s performance. Variety’s Owen Gleiberman wrote that Lively “fills the screen with her acutely aware and slightly tremulous radiance.” As the film finds commercial success, the debate highlights the challenge of marketing more serious stories to wide audiences while still aiming to sell tickets. Lively’s response shows the delicate balance between promoting such important issues and financial goals.
