Sony Pictures was forced to publicly apologize to those suffering from food allergies over the weekend, with irate parents complaining on Facebook about a scene in the upcoming children’s film “Peter Rabbit” that depicts a food fight featuring cartoon rabbits.
According to the Washington Post, the scene in question shows Peter Rabbit and his fellow bunnies hurling blackberries at “archenemy” Mr. McGregor, who happens to suffer from a deadly allergy to the delicious treat.
Parents on social media attacked the film over the “insensitive” attack on Mr. McGregor, calling the images “disturbing” and calling the joke “harmful to the community.”
“The very real fear and anxiety that people experience during an allergic reaction (often referred to as an impending sense of doom) is a serious matter,” the group wrote on Facebook. “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.”
“We would welcome the opportunity to educate your company and the cast of the movie about the realities of food allergy so that they and your viewing audience can better understand and recognize the gravity of the disease,” the group added.
Sony Pictures caved to the online pressure and issued a formal apology over the weekend, saying “Food allergies are a serious issue. Our film should not have made light of Peter Rabbit’s archenemy, Mr. McGregor, being allergic to blackberries, even in a cartoonish, slapstick way.”
“We sincerely regret not being more aware and sensitive to this issue, and we truly apologize,” concluded the statement.