Bestselling author Colleen Hoover fought back tears Wednesday morning as she spoke about the domestic abuse her mother suffered at the hands of her father and how it inspired her to write her novel, It Ends With Us.
The bestselling book, which was published in August 2016, has now been adapted for the big screen with Hollywood actress Blake Lively taking on the role of lead character Lily Bloom, who is based on Colleen’s mother Vannoy Fite.
Speaking about her own experience of domestic abuse, Colleen, 44, told Today host Sheinelle Jones: ‘My first memory of being alive was probably two years old, and I remember my sister and I hiding in our bedroom and I peeked out just as my dad threw a TV at my mum.
“She left him shortly after that, and she’s such a pillar of strength that I always wondered, ‘How was she in this abusive relationship?’ So writing her story, for me, was a way to explore that,” Colleen explained.
“I don’t think she ever really thought she made the right decision, she wasn’t sure…” Colleen said, but as her voice began to crack, she told Sheinelle, “I don’t want to cry.”
Author Colleen Hoover fought back tears Wednesday on Today as she spoke about the domestic abuse her mother suffered.
Colleen pictured with her mother Vannoy Fite, on whom she based her character, Lily Bloom.
Trying to compose herself, Colleen continued talking about her mother, saying, “But until she read the book, she thought, ‘I didn’t know if the choice I made was the best one for you and your sister.'”
“And just knowing that that helped her realize that she couldn’t have made a better decision for us was very moving.”
When Sheinelle, 46, asked her mother what she thought of the film, Colleen revealed: “I watched it for the first time with my mom sitting next to me, and she cried the whole time, she laughed and then seeing her when she finished giving everyone a hug worked in the movie.”
Sheinelle then asked, ‘When did you know Blake Lively was on board?’ to which Colleen replied, ‘They told me I could sign on when they were in early talks with her and she’s one of my favorite actresses.
“I’m kind of a realist, a pessimist, and so I didn’t allow myself to get excited until she showed up on set and was really there for the role.”
Speaking about her book being adapted into a film, which also stars Justin Baldoni and Brandon Sklenar, Colleen said: “It’s very surreal. I remember crying walking into the flower shop for the first time and then seeing the things I wrote on paper come to life around me. It’s just amazing, honestly.”
Earlier this year, Colleen received criticism when she announced a collaboration with nail salon brand Olive and June.
She revealed that she will be launching a collection of nail polishes and false nails “inspired” by her “best-selling titles.”
Of course, this included It Ends With Us, and many suggested that it was inappropriate to sell merchandise given the domestic violence theme that runs through the book.
The bestselling author is pictured here with her sister, Lin, and mother, Vannoy.
Colleen onstage with Blake Lively at the New York premiere of It Ends With Us on August 6
Earlier this year, Colleen came under fire for a collaboration with nail salon brand Olive and June.
The backlash began after Olive and June launched the nail products on their website, with individual bottles priced at $9 and a collection of all eight shades costing shoppers $62.
All of the shades were named after characters and settings from Hoover’s books, and one controversial color in the nail polish line was called ‘Brave blush.’
Readers were quick to criticize the novelist’s decision to launch the book-themed nail polish, particularly in reference to It ends with us
On social media, one person raged: “This is totally inappropriate. I’m always the first to defend these books but my god this is just ridiculous, it’s romanticising abuse.”
Another person wrote: “This is literally a book about domestic violence, why would it be a good idea to promote it this way?”, while a third added: “Wow, read what they say. These profits are better off going to domestic violence.”
“How can anyone accept domestic violence themed nail polish?” a fourth person said, while another wrote: “Wow! I’ve always loved Olive and June, but this doesn’t seem like a good collaboration unless all the proceeds go to causes related to domestic violence.”
Last year, Colleen was forced to pull an adult coloring book based on It Ends With Us. She later apologized for the insensitive activity book and it ceased production.
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