Use creator rather than email

src/registrar/models/domain_request.py

@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ from django.conf import settings
 from django.db import models
 from django_fsm import FSMField, transition  # type: ignore
 from django.utils import timezone
+from waffle import flag_is_active
 from registrar.models.domain import Domain
 from registrar.models.federal_agency import FederalAgency
 from registrar.models.utility.generic_helper import CreateOrUpdateOrganizationTypeHelper
@@ -668,34 +669,41 @@ class DomainRequest(TimeStampedModel):
     def _send_status_update_email(
         self, new_status, email_template, email_template_subject, send_email=True, bcc_address="", wrap_email=False
     ):
-        """Send a status update email to the submitter.
+        """Send a status update email to the creator.
 
-        The email goes to the email address that the submitter gave as their
-        contact information. If there is not submitter information, then do
+        The email goes to the email address that the creator gave as their
+        contact information. If there is not creator information, then do
         nothing.
 
         send_email: bool -> Used to bypass the send_templated_email function, in the event
         we just want to log that an email would have been sent, rather than actually sending one.
         """
 
-        if self.submitter is None or self.submitter.email is None:
-            logger.warning(f"Cannot send {new_status} email, no submitter email address.")
+        # Send the status update to the request creator
+        to_address = self.creator.email if self.creator else None
+        if to_address is None:
+            logger.warning(f"Cannot send {new_status} email, no creator email address.")
             return None
 
         if not send_email:
-            logger.info(f"Email was not sent. Would send {new_status} email: {self.submitter.email}")
+            logger.info(f"Email was not sent. Would send {new_status} email: {to_address}")
             return None
         
+        recipient = self.creator if flag_is_active(None, "profile_feature") else self.submitter
         try:
             send_templated_email(
                 email_template,
                 email_template_subject,
-                self.submitter.email,
-                context={"domain_request": self},
+                to_address,
+                context={
+                    "domain_request": self,
+                    # This is the user that we refer to in the email
+                    "recipient": recipient,
+                },
                 bcc_address=bcc_address,
                 wrap_email=wrap_email,
             )
-            logger.info(f"The {new_status} email sent to: {self.submitter.email}")
+            logger.info(f"The {new_status} email sent to: {to_address}")
         except EmailSendingError:
             logger.warning("Failed to send confirmation email", exc_info=True)
 

src/registrar/templates/emails/action_needed_reasons/already_has_domains.txt

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 {% autoescape off %}{# In a text file, we don't want to have HTML entities escaped #}
-Hi, {{ domain_request.submitter.first_name }}.
+Hi, {{ recipient.first_name }}.
 
 We've identified an action that you’ll need to complete before we continue reviewing your .gov domain request.
 

src/registrar/templates/emails/action_needed_reasons/bad_name.txt

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 {% autoescape off %}{# In a text file, we don't want to have HTML entities escaped #}
-Hi, {{ domain_request.submitter.first_name }}.
+Hi, {{ recipient.first_name }}.
 
 We've identified an action that you’ll need to complete before we continue reviewing your .gov domain request.
 

src/registrar/templates/emails/action_needed_reasons/eligibility_unclear.txt

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 {% autoescape off %}{# In a text file, we don't want to have HTML entities escaped #}
-Hi, {{ domain_request.submitter.first_name }}.
+Hi, {{ recipient.first_name }}.
 
 We've identified an action that you’ll need to complete before we continue reviewing your .gov domain request.
 

src/registrar/templates/emails/action_needed_reasons/questionable_authorizing_official.txt

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 {% autoescape off %}{# In a text file, we don't want to have HTML entities escaped #}
-Hi, {{ domain_request.submitter.first_name }}.
+Hi, {{ recipient.first_name }}.
 
 We've identified an action that you’ll need to complete before we continue reviewing your .gov domain request.
 

src/registrar/templates/emails/domain_request_withdrawn.txt

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 {% autoescape off %}{# In a text file, we don't want to have HTML entities escaped #}
-Hi, {{ domain_request.submitter.first_name }}.
+Hi, {{ recipient.first_name }}.
 
 Your .gov domain request has been withdrawn and will not be reviewed by our team.
 

src/registrar/templates/emails/includes/domain_request_summary.txt

@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ Purpose of your domain:
 {{ domain_request.purpose }}
 
 Your contact information:
-{% spaceless %}{% include "emails/includes/contact.txt" with contact=domain_request.submitter %}{% endspaceless %}
+{% spaceless %}{% include "emails/includes/contact.txt" with contact=recipient %}{% endspaceless %}
 
 Other employees from your organization:{% for other in domain_request.other_contacts.all %}
 {% spaceless %}{% include "emails/includes/contact.txt" with contact=other %}{% endspaceless %}

src/registrar/templates/emails/status_change_approved.txt

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 {% autoescape off %}{# In a text file, we don't want to have HTML entities escaped #}
-Hi, {{ domain_request.submitter.first_name }}.
+Hi, {{ recipient.first_name }}.
 
 Congratulations! Your .gov domain request has been approved.
 

src/registrar/templates/emails/status_change_rejected.txt

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 {% autoescape off %}{# In a text file, we don't want to have HTML entities escaped #}
-Hi, {{ domain_request.submitter.first_name }}.
+Hi, {{ recipient.first_name }}.
 
 Your .gov domain request has been rejected.
 

src/registrar/templates/emails/submission_confirmation.txt

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 {% autoescape off %}{# In a text file, we don't want to have HTML entities escaped #}
-Hi, {{ domain_request.submitter.first_name }}.
+Hi, {{ recipient.first_name }}.
 
 We received your .gov domain request.