'It Ends With Us' star Justin Baldoni details struggling for years after being traumatized by ex-GF

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Justin Baldoni is revealing a deeply personal chapter of his life, discussing the sexual trauma he endured during a toxic college relationship.

On the December 4, Wednesday, episode of 'Elizabeth Day’s How to Fail' podcast, the actor and director shared his painful experience for the first time, describing how it impacted his sense of self for many years, as reported by People.

Justin Baldoni opens up about being traumatized by ex-girlfriend during college years

Baldoni explained that, as a young man, he entered into a relationship while trying to maintain his strong values and hope to save himself for marriage. However, the relationship quickly became emotionally abusive, and he found himself manipulated and losing touch with his identity.

"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," Baldoni shared.

Reflecting on the "sexual trauma" he experienced, Baldoni admitted that, for a long time, he couldn’t accept that it had happened to him.

"In my head, a man can't experience sexual trauma at the hands of a woman, It's also the way that society has kind of made me feel that, you know, it's only the other way around, when in reality it can happen."

The actor, who has openly discussed his Baha'i faith in the past, shared that he "was hoping to save myself for marriage, and that's as detailed as I'll get into the story."

Baldoni shared, "There are lines that can be crossed and take advantage of somebody and to be manipulated. But I told myself for 15 years after that that wasn't actually what happened and that I did want it and all of the things that women have been feeling and experiencing for a long time."

Baldoni admitted that "acknowledging that a woman could take advantage of me" was something he struggled to confront, adding that it became "too much to hold for many, many years."

Justin Baldoni reflects on healing and the impact of his new film 'It Ends With Us'

Justin Baldoni has opened up about a pivotal moment in his life that led to his emotional healing. Speaking candidly about his past, Baldoni shared a conversation with his therapist that led him to confront his own trauma.

“One day my therapist asked me a very simple question,” he recalled. “‘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.” The question, which focused on a past relationship marred by cheating and infidelity, marked the beginning of his healing journey.

Baldoni revealed that the painful end of the relationship was a catalyst for significant life changes. “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.”

Since then, Baldoni’s life has taken a more positive turn. He married Emily in 2013, and together they have two children, Maiya, 9, and Maxwell, 7.

Baldoni’s latest project, 'It Ends With Us', explored themes of domestic violence and gaslighting in relationships. The film, which arrives on Netflix on December 9, follows the emotional journey of its lead character as she navigates the complexities of an abusive relationship. Baldoni, who both stars in and directs the film, has used his platform to speak directly to survivors of abuse, sharing a powerful message on Instagram upon the movie's release in theaters this past August.

To survivors, Baldoni wrote: “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. Every step forward you take, no matter how small, is a declaration of your unyielding spirit and an inspiration to others.”