Anna Kendrick Says She Refuses to Date a Man ‘Unless He Is In or Has Been In Therapy’ Following ‘Abusive’ 7-Year Relationship

After a life-changing experience in a difficult seven-year relationship, Anna Kendrick now has a rule: she won’t date anyone who hasn’t been through therapy.

This mindset shift came from grappling with what she calls a “complicated” relationship and navigating a painful personal journey she didn’t expect. Now, therapy isn’t optional — it’s mandatory.

In an interview on the podcast Call Her Daddy, Kendrick opened up about one of her past relationships that she is happy to be out of.

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She explained that her relationship didn’t fit the usual “frog in boiling water” scenario of gradual toxicity. Instead, it was a sudden, overnight change in her partner’s behavior that left her reeling.

For the Pitch Perfect star, this abrupt 180 made her question herself deeply.

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Her trust in this person made it difficult for her to recognize the problem right away, and she ended up blaming herself.

“I thought it had to be me. If one of us was crazy, it had to be me,” she said. “It was very, very difficult to actually go, ‘No, I think this is him. I think this is his stuff.'”

Trying to cope, the Twilight actress “turned [her] life completely upside down,” attempting to “fix whatever was wrong with [her].”

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The pair tried couple’s therapy, but it turned out to be less than helpful. Her partner would “stay calm” in sessions, which only added to her confusion and self-doubt.

Their therapist initially sided with her partner, believing his version of events.

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“The therapist bought his stuff,” Kendrick recalled. It took some time, but eventually the therapist switched sides and apologized when they “realized what was going on towards the end

Talking about the relationship now is still “really complicated” for Kendrick.

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She’s admitted that even to this day, she sometimes catches herself wondering if she made the whole thing up. “There are still times when I talk about the relationship and think, ‘Am I making that up? Am I making everything up?’” she said.

As much as she enjoys helping others by discussing relationship red flags, Kendrick now has mixed feelings about how people discuss them.

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She thinks that sometimes the way we talk about warning signs can come off as “victim-blamey.”

“How is it that we’re meant to be inside the mind of someone who is working very hard to make sure that you feel very unsteady?” she questioned.

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It can be very tricky to understand somebody whose manipulation is intended to be covert.

Now, Kendrick has made therapy a non-negotiable part of her relationships going forward.

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“I won’t even consider getting involved with a man—not even a kiss, not even a real conversation — unless they’re in or have been in therapy,” she said.

Her stance isn’t just a rule; it’s a form of self-care.

Kendrick prioritizes mental wellness, and honestly, who can blame her? We’re here for this energy — setting high standards and ignoring red flags.

Let us know what you think of her relationship hot-take!