It Ends With Us director and star Justin Baldoni is continuing to speak out in support of domestic violence survivors.
Baldoni took to Instagram to share a lengthy love letter he wrote to survivors, praising them for everything they do to thrive, even in the darkest situations.
“You embody resilience and courage, qualities that shine bright even on the darkest days,” he began. “In the tapestry of your life, each thread tells a story of endurance, strength and hope. Every step forward you take, no matter how small, is a declaration of your unyielding spirit and an inspiration to others.”
He continued, stating that while survivors may not always see the impact they have on the people around them, their journey encourages and motivates people, lighting the path for everyone who is still “searching for the light.”
“While I can never fully understand your pain and all you have endured, I want you to know that you are never alone in this fight,” he wrote. “We are with you. You are not just surviving; you are thriving, and in your thriving, you inspire us all. May your journey forward be filled with moments of profound peace. And may you remember that as you fight for joy…you are liberating us all.”
The Jane the Virgin star’s letter comes on the heels of rumors of an alleged rift between him and his co-star, Blake Lively on the set of the film adaption of Colleen Hoover’s novel. Social media was ablaze with theories that the stars had a falling out at some point during production because of their lack of joint press and photos together leading up to It Ends With Us hitting theaters. Rumors were further fueled by the fact that neither Lively, Hoover, nor the rest of the film’s cast, follow Baldoni on Instagram even though he follows them.
As rumors surrounding the alleged rift raged on, Baldoni hired veteran PR crisis manager Melissa Nathan. Hoover and Sony spoke out in support of Lively and said nothing about the actor and director, who fought to bring this adaptation to life for five years.
Social media users have been pitting Baldoni and Lively against each other, with many claiming the Gossip Girl alum and some of her co-stars were promoting the film in a very lighthearted way, despite its serious subject matter of domestic violence. However, reports also surfaced Baldoni fostered an uncomfortable set that left Lively and some other stars feeling alienated on set.
While there is an It Ends With Us sequel called It Starts With Us, it’s unclear if an adaptation of the second novel in Hoover’s series would actually come to fruition, considering this alleged rift between the film’s two stars.
Sources previously told The Hollywood Reporter that two competing cuts emerged for the film, one that the Simple Favor actress commissioned and Baldoni’s; Lively’s is the one in theaters reportedly. The star-director has noted that there are no plans for a sequel yet, but he did say if there were to be one that he felt Lively was ready to direct it.
