Melissa Benoist's latest story [trigger warning: domestic violence]

And to Robert Anthony, thank you for sharing your story, proving that violence can affect more than just the immediate victim. You state: "I may never ever be in a relationship or married because of what my father did." But you have come a long way, and many years lie ahead, so keep working at it and I hope that you will find all that you seek in your life. Happy Thanksgiving!

Bill, may the good lord bless you as he has blessed me despite everything.

Blake Jenner responds:

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/blake-jenner-responds-melissa-benoist-015357621.html

Let me break it down here bill...

First of all, I am glad that Blake has taken responsibility for his actions, and has undertaken an ongoing therapy program to find the causes and overcome them. He is apparently making progress, and good luck to him as he continues on that path.

A bit too little too late.

However, when I compare this statement with Melissa's video of last year and with her subsequent statements and activities, I see a number of significant differences. She chose to make her statement on video, and her obvious distress and emotion while relating those experiences was evident. I think his statement would have been more impactful had it also been on video; mere text does not have the same effect.

I agree as everything in this world is get it on visual rather than by words as actions (video in this case) speak louder than words.

Blake's statement seems more an attempt at redemption than anything else, a career saving move. In contrast, Melissa's purpose was to help others in violent relationships find the courage and resolve to escape. She spent significant time describing the challenges of that, but emphasized that it is possible, provided a link to sites for help, and pledged her support. Blake expressed his support as well, but briefly and in passing.

If it's for redemption, he comes up way short. On the other hand there are cases where men are the ones being abused, but statistics are a shot in the dark because of men trying to protect their masculinity or the way the corporate media handles cases.

Blake describes their relationship as toxic, with blame on both sides. This is likely true, and Melissa admitted in her video that during their relationship she became an ugly version of herself: lying, becoming cold, aloof, unreliable, unprofessional, and ultimately fighting back. She has also been forthright about her struggles with anxiety and depression. However his description of their relationship seems more directed toward garnering sympathy than anything else. She is accused of being controlling and manipulative, a description almost identical to her description of him. If true, she was likely responding in kind to his actions. But that description does not fit with any other description of her I have seen. He also claims he too was injured, and since she admitted to fighting back that is certainly possible. But I have trouble finding sympathy for someone whose face was scratched while he was choking someone. Sorry, but blaming the victim does not impress me.

If Blake Jenner is looking for any sympathy from me at least...KEEP LOOKING! Also, Melissa seemingly lied in her interviews when she said one of their dogs jumped on her causing her to fall near a plant causing damage to her eye. The story about her falling from her bicycle in NYC...I find that has a little more credence to it given the bike tattoo on her left foot.

If he follows up this statement with action to truly help other abusers find a way out of a cycle of violence, I will applaud him. But if it is merely an effort to regain fans and salvage his career, both thumbs down.

It's Hollywood...they will almost give abusers second chances at things for their career sans any kind of a guilty conscience or consequences.

@superbill

When I read it, I thought it started off as an apology/acceptance of blame. But, buy the end it was a little more like sharing the blame and then passing off the blame. There are two sides to every story, but he could have blinded Melissa and needs some anger management if he hadn't sought it already... regardless of any codependency issues.

I just want to clarify my feelings on this important issue, because my original remarks have been cited in a few subsequent comments. My original post was too nuanced and may have given some the impression that I bought into his statement. I did not. I have zero sympathy for Blake Jenner, and found his statement self-serving; if he spends the rest of his life in No-wheres-ville it's fine with me. I tried to say that if he did undergo a sincere epiphany and took subsequent action to truly help people escape a cycle of violence, I would commend him for that. But so far he has shown no sign of using his platform for any good purpose, and I will be beyond astonished if he ever does. Melissa is a winner and Blake is a loser; that pretty well sums it up.