The new Peter Rabbit film is facing a boycott over a scene in which a gang of bunnies attack a man with blackberries, knowing he is allergic to them.
Several groups representing allergy sufferers have condemned the scene, prompting the hashtag #boycottpeterrabbit on social media.
Australian group Global Anaphylaxis Awareness and Inclusivity (Globalaai) has created a petition asking distributor Sony Pictures to apologise, saying the film “mocks the seriousness of allergic disease and is heartbreakingly disrespectful to the families of those that have lost loved ones to anaphylaxis”.
The American group Kids with Food Allergies Foundation said in a Facebook post warning parents about the film that “food allergy ‘jokes’ are harmful to our community”.
“Making light of this condition hurts our members because it encourages the public not to take the risk of allergic reactions seriously, and this cavalier attitude may make them act in ways that could put an allergic person in danger,” it said.
Another US group, Food Allergy Research & Education also posted a warning to members over the content of the film. Parents of children with allergies expressed their dismay over the scene on social media.
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
My 10yr old son really wanted to see Peter Rabbit, but no way will I take him. He has multiple food allergies, some that cause life-threatening reactions. I’ve watched him go into anaphylactic & be rushed to the ER. That was NOT funny. #boycottpeterrabbit
— ❤Peachy (@PeachyKeen34) February 10, 2018
In the controversial scene, the much-loved Beatrix Potter character and his friends reportedly attack the nephew of Peter’s nemesis Mr McGregor with blackberries. The group know that Tom McGregor is allergic to the berries, and at one point even shoot one into his mouth.
He quickly becomes seriously ill and has to stab himself in the leg with an Epipen.
Earlier in the film, according to a review by Twin Cities Geek, Peter Rabbit mocks Tom McGregor’s allergy.
Peter Rabbit was released in the US last week and had mixed reviews.
Sony Pictures said on Sunday in a statement the film “should not have made light” of a character being allergic to blackberries “even in a cartoonish” way.
The studio and filmmakers said they regretted not being more aware and sensitive to the issue.
