The biggest romance film of the year may be centred around domestic violence... but you’d be forgiven for thinking otherwise.
The recent release of "It Ends With Us" (2024), based on Colleen Hoover’s 2016 novel of the same name, has sparked a conversation about how films handle sensitive topics such as domestic violence. The film crossed the $100 million mark globally in its first week, yet the actions of the marketing and promotional teams and those behind the camera have raised questions about how these topics are portrayed and acknowledged in the film.
"It Ends With Us" follows Lily Bloom, a college graduate who opens a flower shop and becomes entangled in a romantic relationship with Ryle Kincaid. The story mirrors Lily's history of growing up in an abusive home, and her struggle to escape a similar fate as an adult.
So, when I saw Blake Lively, who plays the main character and the victim of domestic violence in the film, talking about her hair care brand, new makeup line and promoting her husband Ryan Reynolds’ new film “Deadpool & Wolverine” (2024), while telling the internet to “grab your friends, wear your florals” and go to the cinema to watch a film about an abusive relationship, I was shocked.
Controversy trickled into the “It Ends With Us” press tour when Director and leading actor Justin Baldoni, who plays the male lead Ryle Kincaid, did not appear in any joint interviews and did not walk the red carpet with the rest of the cast and crew. Rumours have followed of potential tensions on set between Lively and her fellow co-star, Baldoni.
Lively reportedly felt that Baldoni had “fat-shamed” her and lingered too long during intimate kissing scenes.
However, at that point Baldoni was the only cast or crew member who had referenced domestic violence resources on their social media. Books which have been adapted into films have always had some scenes removed or information manipulated, but it is hard to ignore the obvious attempt to erase the main theme of the book.
No one should be unknowingly tricked into watching on-screen violence, including scenes of women being assaulted, pushed downstairs or being sexually abused, because they were lured in by false pretences.
The novel’s twist of the lead male character abusing the protagonist has now been revealed in following trailers, and hopefully this is a step taken by the film’s team to rebrand the movie as adult fiction, instead of marketing it as a romance.
When asked about the prospect of meeting fans or people “who relate to the topics of the movie on a deeply personal level”, Lively’s response came across as dismissive and arrogant. She replied, “You mean like asking for my address, or asking for my phone number?”. When she finally addressed the heavy issues which exist in the plot, she said “This movie covers domestic violence, but what’s important about this film is she is not just a survivor and not just a victim.” These words can be emotive and powerful terms for someone to label themselves as, and thus Lively’s statement could be seen as dismissive. Some people may identify with different terms, and that is also valid.
The point is, everyone experiences and processes trauma differently.
On August 12th, Lively shared an Instagram story highlighting the impact of domestic violence. The links on the story included resources such as the National Domestic Violence Hotline. The film’s official Instagram account followed suit by sharing a resource for those experiencing abuse and seeking help. The following day, there was a pinned post of resources. Since, there has been no further mention of these resources. Instead dozens of pictures of the film’s cast and crew having fun at its New York premiere continue to be shared.
This is a film that does not focus on floral gowns or on hair maintenance, but on domestic violence. It’s not the next “Barbie” (2023) or stage for Lively to showcase her gowns or designer fashion. All of that serves to devalue and insult the most important audience members: those who have experienced or are currently experiencing domestic violence. "It Ends With Us" is more than a romantic drama; it's a story that delves into the complexities of domestic violence. The film's marketing and promotional efforts should reflect this, ensuring that the narrative is handled with the sensitivity and respect it deserves, especially for those who have experienced similar trauma.
For Domestic Violence Helplines Phone Women’s Aid at 1800 341 900 24 hours a day, or Men’s Aid at 01 554 3811 Mon-Fri 9am to 5pm.