As the Valentine’s Day premier of the violent sado-masochistic film, Fifty Shades of Grey nears, tens of thousands of Americans have joined a growing coalition of groups that are accusing NBC Universal of “using a romantic holiday to promote a movie about abuse and degradation."

The news organization LifeSiteNews, joined by the National Center on Sexual Exploitation, the Family Research Council, and the website Counter Cultured, released the following statement today about the controversial movie.

"Feminists and social conservatives agree: Fifty Shades of Grey promotes misogyny, abuse, and manipulation, not relationships based upon mutual love and respect," said the coalition. "This film normalizes and glamorizes behaviors such as stalking, threats and physical violence. Its portrayal of relationships and sex is offensive to real life victims of domestic abuse. The film sets a particularly dangerous example for younger viewers, who may not understand that attractive, charismatic young billionaire Christian Grey is also an abusive sociopath, especially since victim/narrator Anastasia Steele continually describes and portrays him as a god."

"Valentine's Day is supposed to be a celebration of love; however, the relationship between the two main characters in Fifty Shades of Grey is anything but caring or loving. NBC Universal should be ashamed of themselves for using a romantic holiday to promote a movie about abuse and degradation," said the diverse group of organizations.

The coalition is joined by 61,000 people who have agreed to boycott the film.

"Fifty Shades of Grey is drawing criticism across the board for its pornographic portrayal of abuse, threats, and physical violence," said LifeSiteNews co-founder and Editor-in-Chief John-Henry Westen. "It is the latest move in the porn-induced slide to complete moral depravity, which is why this movie is being condemned for the trash that it is."

Dawn Hawkins, Executive Director of the National Center on Sexual Exploitation, said that "once the glitz, glamour, and soundtrack are removed, Fifty Shades is really just a disappointing story that tells the public to embrace violence against women. We are thrilled to join the coalition in their effort to bring attention to the sexual violence and domestic abuse agenda of Fifty Shades of Grey."

Likewise, Arina Grossu, the Director of the Family Research Council's Center for Human Dignity, said that "Fifty Shades of Grey objectifies women, glorifies sexual brutality, and encourages domestic violence. Our culture cannot claim to be against the debasement of women and simultaneously celebrate such debasement. This is moral schizophrenia."

"Fifty Shades of Grey gives Millennials a poor representation of what true love is all about, as it promotes abuse, narcissism, and misogyny," said Counter Cultured co-founders Gabriella Hoffman and Anna-Maria Hoffman. "Our generation needs to tell Millennials the truth about this film and show them better alternatives to it through the power of social media and grassroots activism."

The coalition formed in advance of the release of "Fifty Shades of Grey" on Friday, and is expected to grow throughout the week.

Click here to join the boycott!