Colleen Hoover’s book, “It Ends With Us,” spent three years on the New York Times Best Sellers List and the movie surpassed 300 million globally in box office sales.

Let’s dive right in and discuss why there is so much drama surrounding Blake Lively and the movie “It Ends With Us.”

First, some viewers were upset because they believed the movie was repackaging domestic violence trauma and selling it as a lighthearted romantic comedy. In doing so, it ignored the struggle of millions of domestic violence victims. It is important to note that 1 out of 4 women will experience domestic violence during their life. It is extremely prevalent.

In this movie, Blake Lively plays Lily Bloom, who grows up with an abusive father. After Lily’s father passes away, she falls in love with a neurosurgeon named Ryle, who is played by Justin Baldoni. While they are dating, Lily notices Ryle’s violence. Then, they get married, and the violence escalates, ultimately prompting Lily to leave Ryle. After leaving, Lily discovers she is pregnant. She tells Ryle she would like a divorce after having their baby because she wants to break the cycle of generational abuse. Thus, the movie’s title, “It Ends With Us.” Unlike many domestic violence victims, pregnant Lily Bloom does not need to think about finances when leaving her husband Ryle because she is independently wealthy. She even wears an Atelier Versace gown in this movie. While abuse can happen to anyone, typically, the lower the income, the higher the rates of abuse. In this way, Lily’s situation is not relatable to millions of victims of abuse who lack resources. In fact, 95 percent of domestic violence is connected to economic abuse.

Additionally, many of the viewers hoped that Blake would tackle the issue of generational violence in her interviews, but instead, she encouraged fans to grab their friends, “wear florals,” and head out to see the movie. Blake also promoted her new hair care brand, “Blake Brown,” in conjunction with the movie’s release. Some fans felt like the timing of her haircare line launch was off-putting, considering the serious content of the film.

Other viewers were disappointed by what they believed to be inauthentic interviews. For example, one interviewer asked Blake, “If domestic violence victims want to talk to you about this important issue, what’s the best way to go about it?” Instead of welcoming a productive dialogue, Blake laughed and sarcastically replied, “Are they asking for my address or my phone number…or I could just location share.”

More criticism came when fans felt like Blake was cross-promoting “It Ends With Us” with her husband’s film “Deadpool & Wolverine.” The public analyzed each one of Blake’s facial expressions and statements during the press tour.

Some people were upset that domestic violence was largely ignored in the advertisements, so viewers didn’t know what to expect when they went to the movie theater. Additionally, there was no domestic violence hotline referenced in the movie or on Blake Lively’s personal page.

Unfortunately, the endless swirl of drama after the movie took attention away from the important issues depicted in the film. Instead of viewers focusing on how they believe Blake is disingenuous, they should be talking about the serious themes of the movie.

Each minute, approximately 20 people are abused by their partner in this country. This means that while you were reading this article, about 100 people were abused. While Lily Bloom was able to leave her relationship safely and thrive, 75 percent of domestic violence homicides happen after separation. Leaving is an extremely courageous act. We need more support systems in place for survivors of domestic violence. Connecting survivors to support and services quickly is critical.

If you or anyone else you know needs help, call The National Domestic Violence Hotline.