Justin Baldoni Reveals Shocking Sexual Trauma From Ex-Girlfriend
Justin Baldoni Reveals Shocking Sexual Trauma From Ex-Girlfriend.
Justin Baldoni opened up about going through sexual trauma from a past relationship with a college girlfriend.
The director and actor of It Ends With Us, 40, opened up about a 'terrible' relationship during Wednesday's episode of Elizabeth Day’s How to Fail podcast. He talked about how tough it was to accept that a woman could take advantage of him.
Blake Lively's co-star shared that he has been dealing with that trauma ever since, feeling like a man shouldn't experience sexual trauma from a woman.
He pointed out that society often makes it seem like only men can be the aggressors, but that's not the whole truth. Justin, who faced accusations of 'chauvinistic' and 'borderline abusive' behavior on the set of his latest film, reflected on how he spent 15 years convincing himself that what happened wasn’t real and that he wanted it, echoing the struggles many women have faced.
He also mentioned that at that time, he was trying to save himself for marriage, and that’s as far as he wanted to go into the details.
He didn't dive into the specifics, but he mentioned, " There are lines that can be crossed and take advantage of somebody and to be manipulated.”
Justin shared that the unhealthy relationship kicked off when he encountered a "beautiful young woman" at an Abercrombie & Fitch while he was studying at Long Beach State.
He stated that he was 'trying to fill a hole and a void where I just didn't feel like I was enough.'
'It was a very bad relationship, and I kind of contorted myself and my personality to be what she wanted. I had strong values and opinions and beliefs going in, and those were very easily manipulated and reshaped to the point where a few months in I completely lost any sense of self that I had left. And it got very emotionally abusive.'
Justin mentioned that it was his therapist who helped him realize he had gone through sexual trauma.
'One day my therapist asked me a very simple question. She said, "Justin, you do a lot of work in this space: If a woman told you that story, what would you call it?" And that's when I broke,' he shared, adding that his 'healing' then started.
'That relationship ended with cheating and infidelity. It was a terrible, terrible relationship,' he said.
'I left college, I moved to L.A., and it was actually thanks to that relationship ending that I ended up becoming an actor.'
Baldoni tied the knot with his wife Emily back in 2013, and they have two kids together: nine-year-old Maiya and seven-year-old Maxwell. In August, fans applauded the actor for his heartfelt message supporting domestic violence survivors, which is a key theme in his new film, It Ends With Us.
'You embody resilience and courage, qualities that shine bright even on the darkest days. In the tapestry of your life, each thread tells a story of endurance, strength, and hope,' he wrote.
'Every step forward you take, no matter how small, is a declaration of your unyielding spirit and an inspiration to others.'
'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. You are not just surviving; you are thriving, and in your thriving, you inspire us all.'
He also shared on the podcast that he had 'a near breakdown' as he talked about the stress of filming It Ends with Us, which he starred in and directed.
He took on the role of Ryle, showing a harsh side to Lively's character Lily during their relationship.
'Directing is a very lonely job, I'll just be very candid,' he shared.
'Because you are kind of at the top of this totem pole. In your moments of quiet, everybody has a thousand questions for you and also nobody wants to disturb you and you don't really have many people to talk to and you can't necessarily share your anxiety or your nervousness about something because you're also the leader.'
He also admitted that being in Ryle's mindset was 'a very strange place to be.'
'I've done a lot of somatic therapy so there were times when I was actually just shaking,' he said.
'There's a moment in the movie where Ryle finds Lily's phone and he finds a phone number and he's very jealous and he's heartbroken and he's angry and he doesn't harm her but you can see in his eyes how dangerous he is. After that scene, I had a near breakdown.'
'That was very hard and honestly, that took a few months,' he said about getting rid of the character's mindset from his brain.
'I had dreams as him for a while, and it lived in my body, but I think for the most part, he's out.'
There have been claims from insiders that Justin was acting 'chauvinistic' and 'almost abusive' while filming It Ends with Us, which has led to a lot of anger over his unwillingness to consider Blake's character's perspective during the abuse scenes.
For weeks, rumors about a serious feud between Justin and Blake have been circulating, with fans pointing out that the two weren't seen together at the US premiere. Some cast members have also avoided questions about the director.
It is reported that Blake and Justin had disagreements due to his 'dismissive' attitude towards her 'input' during the filming of the abuse scenes.
It is claimed that Justin only focused on 'what he believed was the abusive male viewpoint' and had a very 'chauvinistic' approach to the subject.
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'Justin almost became the character in the sense that some women on set felt he was borderline abusive to them and that he was unprofessional and unapologetic,'
'Directing a film so serious and so important about domestic abuse without allowing the women to be included in this process is disturbing.'
It Ends with Us will be available to stream on Netflix beginning December 9.
Justin Baldoni's openness about his past trauma demonstrates immense courage and vulnerability, encouraging others to address and heal from emotional pain, regardless of gender. By sharing his journey on the How to Fail podcast, he challenges societal norms and stigmas surrounding male experiences with sexual trauma, emphasizing the importance of seeking help and understanding.
His dedication to supporting domestic violence survivors, both through his film It Ends With Us and his personal message of resilience, highlights his compassion and commitment to promoting healing and empowerment. Baldoni's self-awareness and growth make him an inspiring figure for many.
