'It's Us That Concludes' triggers conversations surrounding domestic violence. Here's what Blake Lively shares on the topic.
Beyond whispers of artistic disagreements and on-set friction between the film's lead actress Blake Lively and co-executive producer, alongside her costar and director, Justin Baldoni, attention has shifted towards the way some cast members and the movie's promotional strategy have, or in certain instances, failed to address, the topic of domestic violence. This theme forms a significant part of the film's narrative.
"It Ends with Us" follows the journey of Lily Bloom (Lively), a character who conquers a harrowing childhood marked by abuse to chase her ambition of opening a flower shop. She encounters Ryle Kincaid (Baldoni), with whom she shares a strong connection. As their bond deepens, Lily begins recognizing troubling similarities to her parents' relationship.
The film, which debuted on August 9th, was adorned with posters of Lively with flowers, bearing slogans like "We break the pattern or the pattern breaks us" and "We love. We break. We pick up the pieces." However, a social media post shared by the film's Instagram account and Sony Pictures on the day of release, captioned "grab your friends. wear your florals," attracted much backlash from users who felt this message to be insensitive and a disappointment.
CNN reached out to Lively and Sony Pictures for comment.
Adding fuel to the fire was Lively's utilization of the film's promotional tour for marketing her Betty line of cocktails, an Instagram post announcing her venture around the same time drew criticism from many for promoting an alcohol brand associated with a movie detailing domestic abuse.
At the film's New York premiere earlier this month, Lively briefly touched upon the topic of domestic violence, discussing her thoughts on speaking to survivors of abuse who see the film: "I think that you’re so much — and not to minimize it — but you are so much more than just a survivor or just a victim. While that is a huge thing, you are a person of multitudes, and what someone has done to you doesn’t define you. You define you."
Lively also shared a clip from an interview with BBC News, where she highlighted the importance of her character not being solely defined by her past experiences with abuse. "The movie covers domestic violence, but what’s important about this film is that she is not just a survivor, and she’s not just a victim."
Later, Lively took to her Instagram Stories to share a link to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, emphasizing the prevalence of such incidents in modern society. "1 in 4 women aged 18 and older in the U.S. alone have been the victim of severe physical violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime. Intimate partner violence affects all genders, including more than 12 million people every year in the United States. Everyone deserves relationships free from domestic violence," she wrote on her Instagram Story.
However, Lively's now-famous response to journalist Jake Hamilton in Chicago around the release of the film drew intense criticism for her apparent flippant attitude towards victims of domestic violence. Her response, which expanded upon the logistics of discussing the matter in public, succeeded in a paradoxical feat of generating equal equal support and condemnation.
Sony Pictures have since defended the promotion of the film. "So many women put so much effort into this remarkable movie, working selflessly from the start to ensure that such an important subject matter was handled with care," Sony Pictures Entertainment Chair-CEO Tony Vinciquerra shared in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter earlier this week.
Despite the backlash surrounding the movie's promotional strategy, the film's narrative remains rich in themes of overcoming domestic violence. The entertainment industry has a responsibility to address such sensitive topics thoughtfully, ensuring that the promotion aligns with the movie's message.
The movie's lead actress, Blake Lively, has used her platform to raise awareness about domestic violence, sharing resources and emphasizing the importance of survivors' strength and resilience.
