Beatrix Potter’s Peter Rabbit stories have enthralled generations of children with their tales of warm camaraderie and gentle mischief.
But a new film adaptation of the much-loved classic has prompted a furious backlash and calls for it to be withdrawn from cinemas because the protagonist and his furry friends deliberately pelt an allergic man with blackberries.
Allergy UK said the film, due to be released in the UK next month, “mocks” allergy sufferers and trivialises a life threatening condition.
Carla Jones, the charity’s CEO, said: “Anaphylaxis can and does kill. To include a scene in a children’s film that includes a serious allergic reaction and not to do it responsibly is unacceptable, as is bullying.
“Mocking allergic disease shows a complete lack of understanding of the seriousness of food allergy and trivialises the challenges faced by those who live with this condition, particularly parents who live in fear of their child suffering a life threatening reaction.”
She said they expected the controversial scene to generate a “significant response,” adding: “We will be communicating with the production company about the film’s withdrawal.”
Live2ride86 on February 11st, 2018 at 17:36 UTC »
The real crime here is what they did to Beatrix Potter's story.
Summy1XD on February 11st, 2018 at 17:27 UTC »
People need to relax.. I throw peanuts all the time at my friend who’s allergic to them. He never says anything afterwards, he just kind of lays there.
XISCifi on February 11st, 2018 at 16:37 UTC »
I just watched Home Alone 2 with my kids. Hadn't seen it in 20 years. Kevin throws bricks at the bad guys, makes them fall from great heights, hits them with pipes, paint cans, shelves, tools, and a big tool chest, electrocutes, sets on fire, and blows them up.
Throwing food at someone who's allergic would be par for course for a 90s movie.