Scheduled to hit theaters this fall is the psychological thriller Til Death Do Us Part, a film chronicling the life of Madison Roland (Annie Ilonzeh, All Eyez on Me) and her fight to flee an abusive marriage to her husband Michael (Stephen Bishop, Being Mary Jane). All seems to be going well for Madison in life and love until Michael reappears and she finds herself fighting for survival.
Malik Yoba (Designated Survivor) who co-stars in the film as Rob, Michael’s best friend that assists him in locating his ex-wife, took some time out to chat with Jeandra LeBeauf about the film, the responsibility of the best friend of an abuser, his own experiences with domestic abuse and whether or not fans should expect a New York Undercover reboot.
BSO: Before the film hits theaters this fall, what can you tell us about your character Rob?
MY: I play the best friend of the Steven Bishop character Michael. We reconnect at a party for him that his wife puts together after not having seen each other for years. Michael finds out he runs a private security agency and does a little private investigative work so he asks me to help him find his wife. When Rob sees what’s happening he tries to encourage Michael to get some help.
BSO: We often hear the victim’s side of the abuse but we rarely hear the side of the abuser. Since your character is the friend to the abuser, what do you think is the role of a person who knows their friend is abusing someone?
MY: That’s a very difficult thing. Actually I just went through this.
I witnessed an incident between a good friend of mine and his wife. He was choking her out at a concert, in public, in front of the cops. It was crazy. I was backstage standing around talking to the cops when I heard a skirmish behind me. I turn around to see what’s happening and it’s my people. My friend had his hand around her neck pushing her against the scaffolding. This is in full view of hundreds of people that were standing around and these are somewhat public people.
I couldn’t believe it. I had to step in because I kept thinking if this is happening in public God only knows what’s happening behind closed doors. He tried to elbow me off but I persisted. The police thanked me for stepping in when I did because it happened so quickly they didn’t have time to react.
Afterwards I reached out to other members of the family and tried to encourage an intervention. That was a hard one to take and get involved in. There’s egos involved, but I certainly can’t allow that happen in front of me.
BSO: I’ve noticed in your social media you post a lot of encouraging, and uplifting content about women and words to your beautiful daughters encouraging them.
These real-life, psychological issue driven stories are so dark. Why do these types of stories continue to resonate with people?
MY: I don’t know all the reasons but I would imagine that at the end of the day we still like to see ourselves whether it’s the best version or not.
Sometimes people want to see themselves and sometimes people are reluctantly brought to the party and have to see themselves. I think this is one of those films where someone will watch this film and say that’s me; I’m the victim, I’m the abuser, or a family member. Hopefully this isn’t just about the characters but about showing the unfortunately circumstances people find themselves in and the challenges of getting out of it.
I was in an emotionally abusive relationship which is a trip. It happened while I was a grown person and I didn’t realize it. She would shut down, withhold, disappear and come back. It happens a few times and you get into a rhythm with someone like that before you realize this isn’t cool, it isn’t healthy. I can see how it can happen. It wasn’t physical but it sucked.
BSO: When you stepped out of the emotionally abusive relationship, what was the healing process?
MY: I think there was a bit of healing going on the whole time. We went back and forth for a few years but after I was in for a year or so, maybe more, I realized this is what this is. She would disappear on me and I would still keep coming back. For me it was abusive because I have my own abandonment issues. At the end of the day relationships are about healing our trauma and if you are in a healthy relationship your partner can help with that. That inner child that still needs support can hopefully find a partner that’s willing to help them with that and get to the better side and make good choices.
BSO: Before I let you go, I have to ask. We saw the picture of you, Michael De Lorenzo and Lauren Velez floating around social media. Are we going to get a New York Undercover reboot?
MY: Girl if I had a nickel for every time somebody asked that question.
I will say this; I don’t think it’s going happen. I just wrapped on another show called the Last O.G. with Tracy Morgan and the character I played in that was no JC but just to shoot in New York and do a little bit of a hood story, it was a lot of fun. It’s been a long time since I had that much fun. As much as I would love to see that happen, and apparently a lot of fans would as well, I don’t see it happening. The desire doesn’t seem to be there with the powers that be.
Til Death Do Us Part Opens September 29th in theaters.