Open letter to Caitriona Balfe
Iāve been a fan of yours since I learned you and Sam were going to play two characters Iāve loved for decades. Iāve never fanned before, and Tumblr (which I discovered quite by accident) is my first foray into social media.Ā
I soon found others who seemed like minded, and I kept hearing a word I didnāt understand: shipper. I had to google it to learn its meaning. Yep, Iām a shipper.
Everything I saw and read about you and Sam aligned with what I intuitively sensed ā that you are kind, compassionate, humble, generous, and just Good People.Ā Even when shippers had their firstĀ āDown the Rabbit Holeā moment with your denial before the 2016 Golden Globes, I supported you both.Ā
It was clear to me from your dramatic about-face from the previous day that Starz CEO Chris Albrecht learned you were planning to reveal your relationship and forced the denial. I didnāt blame you; rather my heart went out to two people who were being punished for the crime of falling in love with their costar.Ā
Throughout the narrative when Sam was playing the lead role, I supported him. It was again clear to me that being paired with anyone other than you was distressful for him. Iām sure it also wasnāt easy for you to see your husband linked to another woman.Ā
These are photos of you and Sam from when the narrative was in full swing. You both look exhausted.
Sam appeared to be on the verge of a physical, mental, and emotional breakdown after a year and a half of his narrative. Perhaps thatās why you offered to take the lead role with yourĀ āengagement.ā I donāt think itās a coincidence that your well-being appeared to start suffering at that time.Ā
Cait, I have always supported you, no matter what was going on. Even after your first blocking spree on Twitter, I backed you 100% because I knew you were doing the best you could.Ā Since you recently blocked someone who had the audacity to wish you and Sam a Merry Christmas, however, I now find myself in a quandary. I donāt think you have changed at heart, but your behavior no longer represents the woman I have respected and admired.
I have no right to offer my suggestions (and my prayers), but I think highly enough of you to want to reach out in the only way I can.Ā
If Lionsgate/Starz is still directing the narrative, I pray you find the courage to stand up for your rights in this era of TimeāsUp and MeToo. I understand it will require a huge leap of faith, and I believe you have the inner fortitude to do it. There are many women, myself included, who would support you in this. By standing up for yourself, you have the opportunity to be a role model to women who are still being manipulated by those in power.
If your PR team is directing the narrative, I pray you choose a different team that has all your best interests at heart, including your professional life, your personal life, and your health.Ā
If you and Sam are directing the narrative, I pray you look with open eyes at the toll itās taking and decide if whatever benefits youāre getting are worth the price youāre paying. In my opinion it has not only negatively affected your health, it has alienated some of your best fans and has bled into Outlander.Ā
This message comes from the place in my heart that wants only the best for you and Sam. By taking appropriate stepsĀ andĀ being honest about your relationship, I think most people will come to respect you and your privacy.Ā
In my eyes what you are doing now dishonors love. You deserve to be able to openly claim your husband and your marriage in a way that honors both. That is my heartfelt prayer for you.