[Warning: Potentially Triggering Content]
Uh oh… Zendaya’s new film is a LOT darker than the trailers might have indicated — and it’s offending an unfortunate audience.
The Emmy-winning actress’ new film with Robert Pattinson, The Drama, doesn’t hit theaters until next week, but early screenings have leaked controversial new details about the plot.
WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD.
The trailer for The Drama promised Zendaya’s character mysteriously revealing the “worst thing” she has ever done to her fiancé, who then re-thinks their relationship.
That premise is enough to make any mind wander, but in reality, the script wanders into WAY darker territory than you may expect. According to word of mouth coming out of advanced screenings, the plot twist is that Zendaya’s character reveals she planned a high school shooting as a teen, but didn’t end up going through with it. That’s certainly a bold script choice… and now, a grieving father who lived through very real trauma is speaking out.
Related: Jack Quaid Issues Cryptic Assessment On Working With Meghan Markle In New Film!
During an interview with TMZ published on Tuesday, Tom Mauser, who tragically lost his son Daniel during the 1999 Columbine High School shooting, condemned the movie plot, questioning why anyone would ever think a school shooting would be a good fit for a romantic comedy. The gun reform activist went on to bluntly call it “awful.”
Mauser went on to criticize Zendaya’s recent appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, where he perceived her to laugh off the twist after the host questioned how she felt it might impact some viewers:
“I can see it, without revealing anything, I could see this movie causing a lot of problems for a lot of people in their personal lives.”
Zendaya responded:
“Yeah, very possible. Yes, those conversations can go many ways.”
Elsewhere in the interview, the Euphoria actress spoke more about the “twist.”
“That’s the thing. What’s difficult about even talking about the movie is that there is so many different genres. And I think it is a romantic comedy in many ways but it’s also a drama… everybody has their own kind of feelings leaving the theater, especially with the big twist. There’s so many conversations that are had after you watch it. And it’s one of those things, like I really hope that people don’t spoil it for each other so they are allowed to go into it just unknowing and really experience the drama.”
Watch (below):
Mauser told TMZ he feels casting someone like Zendaya to play the role of someone with such a major skeleton in their closet, in a rom-com setting, “humanizes” shooters and “normalizes” shootings.
It should be reiterated here: Zendaya’s character does NOT go through with the shooting, and no mass violence is depicted on screen.
Still, Mauser thinks anyone who has considered violence should seek therapy and the specific subject matter of school shootings should not be used for entertainment purposes.
What are YOUR thoughts on this situation, Perezcious readers? Be sure to let us know in the comments down below.
If you’re experiencing emotional distress related to incidents of mass violence, you can call or text the Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990 or visit their website at https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/disaster-distress-helpline for more resources
For resources on mental health, visit https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/find-help
[Images via MEGA/WENN]
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