News Reporter Perspective:
The film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling 2016 novel “It Ends with Us” is expected to have a strong second weekend at the box office, but recent reports have cast a shadow over the movie.
Amongst rumors of tensions between star and co-executive producer Blake Lively and director Justin Baldoni during filming, questions have been raised about the film’s handling of the issue of domestic violence, a central theme in the story.
“It Ends with Us” follows Lily Bloom (Lively), who overcomes a difficult past to pursue her dream of opening a flower shop. Her budding romance with Ryle Kincaid (Baldoni) takes a troubling turn, mirroring her parents’ troubled relationship.
While the movie’s promotional materials featured Lively with flowers and poignant taglines, criticism arose over a social media post encouraging fans to “grab your friends” and “wear your florals” on the day of release, deemed by some as insensitive.
Additionally, Lively faced backlash for promoting her Betty cocktail line in conjunction with the film, given its themes of domestic abuse.
At the New York premiere, Lively did address the issue, emphasizing that survivors of abuse are more than their past experiences. She later shared resources for domestic violence victims on social media, emphasizing the importance of healthy relationships.
Despite the controversies, Sony Pictures defended their promotion of the film, highlighting the efforts of the team to handle the sensitive subject matter with care.
If you or someone you know is struggling with intimate partner violence, resources like the National Domestic Violence Hotline are available.
