Peter Rabbit filmmakers apologise after viewers accuse them of allergy bullying

  • Elizabeth Nassem

    Press/Media: Expert Comment

    Period12 Feb 2018

    Media contributions

    1

    Media contributions

    • TitlePeter Rabbit filmmakers apologise after viewers accuse them of allergy bullying’
      Degree of recognitionRegional
      Media name/outletBirmingham Mail
      Media typePrint
      Country/TerritoryUnited Kingdom
      Date12/02/18
      DescriptionPeter Rabbit filmmakers and the studio behind it are apologising for insensitively depicting a character's allergy in the film that has prompted backlash online.

      Sony Pictures said 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".

      n Peter Rabbit, the character of Mr McGregor is allergic to blackberries. The rabbits fling the fruit at him in a scene and he is forced to use an EpiPen.

      The charity group Kids with Food Allergies posted a warning about the scene on its Facebook page on Friday prompting some on Twitter to start using the hashtag #boycottpeterrabbit.
      Producer/AuthorDavid Bentley and James Rodger
      URLhttps://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/uk-news/peter-rabbit-filmmakers-apologise-after-14277039
      PersonsElizabeth Nassem