Peter Rabbit movie: Campaigners call for boycott of new film over ‘disgraceful’ scene ‘making light’ of allergies

Peter Rabbit: Campaigners are calling for a boycott of the new film
Columbia Pictures
Chloe Chaplain12 February 2018

Allergy sufferers and charities have called on viewers to boycott children’s film Peter Rabbit after it sparked a backlash for “making light” of allergic reactions.

A scene in the film shows the character of Mr McGregor, who is allergic to blackberries, being pelted with the fruit by the rabbits.

Mr McGregor, who is the villainous character intent on catching the rabbits in the Beatrix Potter favourite, is then forced to use an EpiPen.

Campaign groups have criticised the scene and said that making light of such instances encourages people not to take allergies seriously.

Filmmakers have issued an apology for the “insensitive” scene.

The film was released in US cinemas over the weekend
AP

The charity group Kids with Food Allergies posted a warning about the scene on its Facebook page after the film was released over the weekend.

The group said that allergy jokes are harmful to their community and that making light of the condition "encourages the public not to take the risk of allergic reactions seriously."

Kenneth Mendez, the president and CEO of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, wrote an open letter to the studio Saturday asking for the opportunity to educate the company and the film's cast on the realities of food allergies and urged the studio to "examine your portrayal of bullying in your films geared towards a young audience."

Campaigners began using the hashtag “boycottpeterrabbit” in response to the complaint.

Parents of children who suffer with allergies have said they are “disgusted” at the “disgraceful” scene, adding: “What kind of message does that scene send to kids?!”

On Sunday Sony Pictures says Sunday in a joint statement with the filmmakers that "food allergies and are a serious issue" and the film "should not have made light" of a character being allergic to blackberries "even in a cartoonish, slapstick way."

The studio and filmmakers say that they, "Sincerely regret not being more aware and sensitive to this issue, and we truly apologize."

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