Where do you sit on the huge ‘Peter Rabbit controversy?’
News reaches Poke HQ that there’s a new Peter Rabbit rabbit movie out, starring James Corden as a rabbit, and instead of just going “it’s a movie for 4 year olds” people are having strong opinions on the internet.
You see the issue is, there’s a scene where a character bombards another character with fruit to try and trigger an allergy.
The worry is, that could encourage kids to bully (if not kill) other children with allergies.
The debate is dividing the internet worse than Brexit, and as we’re an impartial Peter Rabbit news organisation we want to present both sides and ask you to make up your mind.
Here’s the case for the prosecution – four tweets m’lud:
1. Anaphylaxis kills
On Peter Rabbit gate: anaphylaxis kills. Kids copy what they see. Foods people are most often allergic to are easily available.l (and easily thrown!) I don’t think this is just a massive sense of humour failure but not was there any malintent on the part of the film makers.
— Dr Christian Jessen (@DoctorChristian) February 12, 2018
2. Bulling is bad
**Warning** For those who have children that live with food allergies (like mine), do NOT go see the new Peter Rabbit movie. Finding “humor” in bullying by Peter & friends to an allergy friend (who then needs an Epi) is sickening. Shame on @SonyPictures #BoycottPeterRabbit
— Tom Murray (@thomascmurray) February 10, 2018
3.”I’m enraged”
I will be posting more about this tomorrow. I’m enraged. I thought the new peter rabbit movie looked stupid from the previews. Had no idea they were going to mock #foodallergies. We have to move, folks. We have to make our voices heard on this. https://t.co/P71zQb252b
— Food Allergy Arsenal (@allergyarsenal) February 10, 2018
4. “Boycot”
As a father I will be boycotting the Peter Rabbit film so that my children are not encouraged to bully people with allergies, or to be anthropomorphic rabbits.
— Ben Pobjie (@benpobjie) February 12, 2018
And six tweets for the defence m’lud
1. “RIOTING”
"Mommy, what did you do to stop the world from burning down in 2018?"
"NOTHING I WAS RIOTING IN THE STREETS OVER A PETER RABBIT ALLERGY SCENE"
— Dave Weasel (@DaveWeasel) February 12, 2018
2. “You need to take a step back”
If you're calling for a boycott of a Peter Rabbit movie & accusing CGI rabbits of bullying, then you probably need to take a step back and reevaluate things for a little while
— Joe Haggerty (@HackswithHaggs) February 12, 2018
3. “What is wrong with this country?”
Fucking hell what is wrong with this country? People upset about a peter rabbit and some raspberries?? Seriously?? No wonder every one wants to bomb us, get a fucking grip.
— Lee Myers (@myerslee85) February 12, 2018
4. “What about Roadrunner?!”
So Peter Rabbit tries to kill the farmer with his blackberry allergy and parents want the movie banned. The roadrunner pushed the coyote off a lot of cliffs and I knew not to do that. I have a food allergy – not offended. #PeterRabbitMovie
— Michele G (@MicheleinNZ) February 12, 2018
5. “Nazis”
Americans in 1945: “We defeated the Nazis.” Americans in 2018: “We made sure there were no jokes about food allergies in the Peter Rabbit movie.”
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) February 12, 2018
6. “Dude! Talking rabbits!”
The important thing about Peter Rabbit isn't the mockery of food allergies, it's the confirmation to children that talking rabbits not only exist, but engage in organized bullying.
— Jim Norton (@JimNorton) February 13, 2018
So where do you sit Poke readers? You need to come down hard and have an opinion. Now.
Or maybe this is the best take:
My main takeaway from Peter Rabbit was that I’m now so old that I entirely side with Mr McGregor, who just wants to enjoy the lovely garden he’s worked very hard on.
— Olly Richards (@olly_richards) February 4, 2018
