Justin Baldoni Reveals He Was Sexually Traumatized by Ex-Girlfriend

Justin Baldoni struggled for years after being sexually traumatized by an ex-girlfriend.

On a wide-ranging episode of Elizabeth Day’s Find out how to Fail podcast that debuted Dec. 4, the It Ends With Us director-actor, 40, spoke publicly for the primary time about being identified with ADHD as an grownup this 12 months, amongst different subjects.

At one level, Baldoni opened up about feeling conflicted after a poisonous relationship he had in faculty.

He stated he met a “stunning younger lady” at an Abercrombie & Fitch whereas attending Lengthy Seaside State and fell “proper into this relationship as a result of I used to be attempting to fill a gap and a void the place I simply did not really feel like I used to be sufficient.”

“It was a really unhealthy relationship, and I form of contorted myself and my character to be what she needed,” stated the Jane the Virgin star. “I had robust values and opinions and beliefs moving into, and people had been very simply manipulated and reshaped to the purpose the place a number of months in I fully misplaced any sense of self that I had left. And it received very emotionally abusive.”

Baldoni stated after he “skilled sexual trauma in that relationship” he then “wrestled with that trauma for the remainder of my life, as a result of in my head a person cannot expertise sexual trauma by the hands of a lady. It is also the best way that society has form of made me really feel that, , it is solely the opposite method round, when in actuality it could actually occur.”

The star, who has beforehand been open about his Bahá’í religion, stated he “hoped to save lots of myself for marriage, and that is as detailed as I am going to get into the story.”

“There are traces that may be crossed and make the most of anyone and to be manipulated. However I instructed myself for 15 years after that that wasn’t truly what occurred and that I did need it and the entire issues that girls have been feeling and experiencing for a very long time,” stated Baldoni.

Baldoni stated “acknowledging {that a} lady might make the most of me” grew to become “an excessive amount of to carry for a lot of, a few years.”

“Sooner or later my therapist requested me a quite simple query. She stated, ‘Justin, you do loads of work on this house: If a lady instructed you that story, what would you name it?’ And that’s once I broke,” he stated, including that his “therapeutic” started at that time.

“That relationship ended with dishonest and infidelity. It was a horrible, horrible relationship,” stated Baldoni. “I left faculty, I moved to L.A., and it was truly because of that relationship ending that I ended up changing into an actor.”

Baldoni married his spouse Emily in 2013, they usually share two children, Maiya, 9, and Maxwell, 7.

Baldoni’s newest movie, It Ends With Us (on Netflix Dec. 9), explores themes of home violence and gaslighting in relationships. He shared a message to survivors on Instagram upon the film’s launch in theaters in August.

“You embody resilience and braveness, qualities that shine brilliant even on the darkest days. Within the tapestry of your life, every thread tells a narrative of endurance, power, and hope,” he wrote. “Each step ahead you are taking, irrespective of how small, is a declaration of your unyielding spirit and an inspiration to others.”

“Chances are you’ll not all the time see the impression you’ve, however your journey encourages and motivates, lighting the trail for these of us nonetheless trying to find the sunshine. Whereas I can by no means absolutely perceive your ache and all you’ve endured, I would like you to know that you’re by no means alone on this battle,” Baldoni continued. “We’re with you. You aren’t simply surviving; you’re thriving, and in your thriving, you encourage us all.”

If you happen to or somebody has been sexually assaulted, please contact the Nationwide Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org.