This article was written by divorce attorney Lisa Robinson as part of her series on celebrity divorce and family law issues.
The film It Ends With Us was released in late 2024. The movie had a $25 million dollar budget; it grossed over $351 million. The novel of the same name was published in 2016, written by the successful and prolific author Colleen Hoover. Hoover has sold over 20 million books and is considered an influential bestseller. She calls the title the “Hardest book I’ve ever written,” and admits that the themes of domestic violence and emotional abuse are reflective of her upbringing and family life in Texas. Even though this work is labeled as a romance novel, It Ends With Us tells the tale of domestic violence.
Domestic Violence in the United States
Domestic violence is not just a storyline; it is horrible reality that exists in the United States and across the world. American health care and legal professionals have statistics that tell these shocking numbers:
1 out of 4 women will be a victim of domestic violence at some point in their life; for men the numbers are 1 out of 9. Given how big these percentages are, you undoubtedly know multiple people who have experienced domestic violence regardless of gender.
10 million women are assaulted by their partner annually in the US.
44% of female homicide victims via domestic violence, had an emergency room visit in the past 2 years prior to death.
It is estimated that 40% of domestic violence victims do not contact nor report to law enforcement, so it’s very possible all of the above numbers are even larger in reality.
The national economic cost of domestic violence is estimated to be over $12 Billion a year.
Domestic Violence and It Ends With Us
The above numbers are sobering, but back to the movie. It Ends With Us follows the first love relationship of high schoolers Atlas, who has no resources, money, nor family, and Lily (played by actress Blake Lively), a middle-class teen who has watched her dad repeatedly abuse her mother. The poor young Atlas has no choice but to join the military post-high school.
After college, the female lead Lily pursues her dream and passion of opening a flower shop. Her floral emporium is visually stunning, almost as stunning as the romantic pursuit that the brilliant but troubled neurosurgeon Ryle (played by actor Justin Baldoni) engages in. The film follows Lily and Ryle’s passionate love story and marriage. But, the tale also shows his outbursts of jealousy, emotional rage, and violence. Combine the domestic violence with the re-entry of Lily’s first love from high school, Atlas, and major complications ensue.
Life Imitates Art
During the late Summer 2024 premier and movie promotion stage, the female star, Blake Lively, was criticized for promoting some of her personal products and for suggesting that movie goers dress in their best flowery clothes and grab their gal pals for a fun night out. The phrase “tone deaf” was used to describe Blake’s actions. It was noted that tensions between the female lead and male lead had escalated.
And, in December 2024, Blake Lively sued Justin Baldoni and his production company for sexual harassment and intimidation. She had also filed a civil rights complaint regarding the sexual harassment in California. Almost simultaneously, The New York Times published an article on how Baldoni and his team were waging a negative war against Lively by trying to destroy her reputation with a public smear campaign. Baldoni quickly responded with a libel lawsuit against The New York Times, asking for $250 million. He then sued Blake Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, for civil extortion, defamation and invasion of privacy, demanding $400 million in damages.
The Lost Message
Who knows how all these lawsuits will be resolved. Each side has provided texts, videos, along with massive amounts of evidence. This story now contains allegations of a hostile work environment, weight shaming, and stalking. While many are jumping to take sides, both parties have
There is one thing in common that many in the entertainment industry and in the legal field can agree on, though – the message about the dangers of domestic violence and how victims struggle with the decision to stay or leave is taking a back seat. The news and coverage of these high stakes lawsuits are overshadowing the message from the best selling novel and commercially successful movie.
What readers should take away is the serious subject matter. Domestic violence can happen to anyone. People unintentionally normalize it and engage in it without realizing why. Family history, social norms, and many other factors play into its proliferation. If someone is abusing you or you know someone who is suffering from it, take action. Tell someone what you’re going through, stand up for victims, and, most importantly, never convince yourself that it is deserved.
As family law attorneys, we have seen domestic violence and the toll it takes on families, including parents, spouses, partners, and children. We help clients obtain protective orders. Our website has referrals for shelters, hotlines, support groups, and other resources. We want to help in whatever way we can. We want to see domestic violence end for you and your family.
If you are experiencing domestic violence or know someone who is, contact us or call us at 919-787-6668.
