It Ends With Us star and director Justin Baldoni took to social media to pen an emotional letter to survivors of domestic violence.
The post, titled “Dear Survivor,” is shared with nonprofit organization No More, which serves as a charitable partner of the Colleen Hoover adaptation, as part of an ongoing relationship with Wayfarer Studios, and Survivor Love Letter, a community born from a tweet that encouraged people to post love letters to domestic abuse survivors online.
“You embody resilience and courage, qualities that shine bright even on the darkest days,” the actor wrote Aug. 30. “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, “You may not always see the impact you have, but your journey encourages and motivates, lighting the path for those of us 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. We are with you.”
The message concluded, “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. Sending you gratitude, strength, and love. 💜”
Baldoni’s letter comes as the Sony/Wayfarer film seeks to cross the $300 million mark at the box office. The drama, which is based on Hoover’s best-selling novel of the same name, stars Blake Lively as Lily Bloom, a woman who overcomes a traumatic childhood to embark on a new life in Boston, where she plans to open up her own flower shop. While there, she has a meet-cute with charming neurosurgeon Ryle Kincaid (Baldoni), which eventually develops into a tumultuous romance after an intense connection. To complicate matters, Lily’s first love, Atlas Corrigan (Brandon Sklenar), suddenly reappears, upending her relationship with Ryle and forcing her to make a life-altering choice.
Since the film’s release and press tour, much ado has been made of the potential discord between cast members Baldoni, Lively, Sklenar and Jenny Slate, with the rumor mill swirling about creative disagreements and on-set strife. In response, Baldoni hired crisis PR vet Melissa Nathan of The Agency Group, though he expressed support for Lively helming the film’s sequel.
For his part, Sklenar criticized the online chatter in a recent statement, saying, “Colleen and the women of this cast stand for hope, perseverance, and for women choosing a better life for themselves. Vilifying the women who put so much of their heart and soul into making this film because they believe so strongly in its message seems counterproductive and detracts from what this film is about.”
