Parents Are Boycotting The New ‘Peter Rabbit’ Movie For Mocking Food Allergies
Beatrix Potter is turning over in her grave, and it’s all thanks to the controversy surrounding Peter Rabbit, a movie based on her timeless children’s book.
One scene from the film features the main rabbit, played by James Corden, leading his fellow bunnies in an all-out blackberry assault against the main villain, Mr. McGregor. McGregor just so happens to be allergic to the berries, and is forced to use an EpiPen after going into anaphylactic shock. That didn’t sit too well with some food allergy advocacy groups, since it sells the idea that mocking or bullying someone because of their allergies is okay.
Both the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America and Kids with Food Allergies organizations posted warnings about Peter Rabbit regarding the scene, FOX11 reports. People on Twitter have also taken up their pitchforks over the movie scene, utilizing the hashtag #BoycottPeterRabbit to either voice their support or criticize the boycott as being hypersensitive.
#PeterRabbitMovie @SonyPictures
Would you laugh at a person with diabetes force fed sugar? No. But that’s exactly what you’re doing in your movie: continuing to marginalize people with #foodallergies.
So throw an allergen at someone? I’m coming for you.#BoycottPeterRabbit
— ☘️ Jamie ☘️ (@jamiefid) February 10, 2018
As a mother of a toddler allergic to several foods, I am disgusted that Sony would make a joke out of flicking an allergen at a food allergic individual. Doing so is felony aggravated assault! What kind of message does that scene send to kids?! #boycottpeterrabbit
— hydrogirl71 (@hydrogirl71) February 10, 2018
Peter Rabbit movie mocks anaphylaxis and food allergies, and encourages bullying. Please don’t spend money on this awful depiction of a beloved childhood book. #boycottpeterrabbit https://t.co/qzRmEOoGY3
— Emily Potter (@emily0918) February 11, 2018
Laughing at all the grown arse adults boycotting a kids film because there feelings are hurt over an allergy scene 😂😂😂 get in the bin, get a life you sad fuckers #twittermobmenatlity #boycottpeterrabbit what a joke…
— David Murray. (@Dav1dmurray) February 11, 2018
Just read this drivel today, #boycottpeterrabbit people getting offended over kids films. I remember violent cartoons as a child and I don’t recall brutally killing anyone growing up. Have some faith in your kids, breathe, and remember its just a stupid film about talking rabbits
— Nick Fitzpatrick (@nicknogger) February 11, 2018
SONY Pictures and the filmmakers have since apologized for including the scene, regretting that they were not “more aware and sensitive to the issue.”
