The release of The Roses on August 29, 2025, was meant to be a triumphant moment for Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch, two of Britain’s most celebrated actors, as they starred in a biting reimagining of the 1989 dark comedy The War of the Roses. Directed by Jay Roach and penned by Tony McNamara, the film promised a modern take on marital dysfunction, blending sharp humor with raw emotion. Critics initially hailed the performances, with Variety calling it “a piercing black comedy” and Rolling Stone praising the leads’ “deliciously savage” chemistry. Yet, within days of its premiere, a storm of controversy erupted, centered on a shocking scene involving a food allergy. Labeled “dangerous” and “triggering” by advocacy groups and viewers, the scene has sparked a fierce debate about artistic freedom, responsible storytelling, and the portrayal of life-threatening conditions in cinema. 😱🎬

A Modern Spin on a Classic Tale

The Roses, distributed by Searchlight Pictures, adapts Warren Adler’s 1981 novel The War of the Roses, previously brought to life in 1989 with Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner. The 2025 version follows Theo (Cumberbatch) and Ivy Rose (Colman), a seemingly perfect couple whose marriage unravels when Ivy’s career as a chef skyrockets while Theo’s architectural dreams collapse. Set in a glossy California beach villa, the film trades the original’s nihilistic tone for a lighter, romcom-infused vibe, with McNamara’s script—known from The Favourite and Poor Things—laced with biting profanity and thorny gender dynamics. The stellar cast, including Andy Samberg, Kate McKinnon, and Allison Janney, adds comedic flair, while Florian Hoffmeister’s vibrant cinematography and Theodore Shapiro’s playful score enhance the film’s polish. 🌊🏡

The plot traces the couple’s descent from love to loathing, culminating in a series of escalating pranks and destructive acts. Reviews have been mixed but generally positive, with a 65% Rotten Tomatoes score and a 59/100 on Metacritic as of September 2, 2025. The Los Angeles Times called it “bubbly and tragic,” while The Guardian criticized its “overly glossy sheen.” Colman and Cumberbatch shine, delivering what BBC described as “droll perfection,” with Colman’s mastery of profanity and Cumberbatch’s surprising comedic timing earning particular praise. Yet, it’s a pivotal scene late in the film that has overshadowed these accolades, igniting a firestorm of criticism. 😡

The Controversial Allergy Scene: A Step Too Far?

The scene in question, detailed in a Wikipedia summary and reported by Daily Mail on September 1, 2025, occurs during a heated moment in the Roses’ marital warfare. Theo, desperate to force Ivy to sign divorce papers, tricks her into eating a raspberry cake, knowing she has a severe allergy to raspberries. As Ivy suffers an anaphylactic reaction, Theo withholds her EpiPen, demanding she sign the documents before offering relief. Ivy pretends to comply, and Theo ultimately saves her. The scene, meant to underscore the couple’s toxic desperation, spirals into chaos as Ivy retaliates by chasing Theo with a home defense gun, leading to the destruction of her prized oven—once owned by Julia Child—and a gas leak that sets up the film’s ambiguous climax. 🔫🍰

The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation, a leading UK charity, was quick to condemn the scene, labeling it “triggering” and “dangerous.” In a statement to Daily Mail, they declared, “Withholding life-saving medication like an adrenaline auto-injector (EpiPen, Jext) in a medical emergency is not remotely funny; especially as life-threatening food allergies affect so many people. These portrayals are not only triggering, they are dangerous.” The charity, founded after the tragic 2016 death of Natasha Ednan-Laperouse from an allergic reaction, emphasized the real-world impact: “Using food allergies and the threat of anaphylaxis for cheap laughs is careless, offensive, and completely unacceptable.” They announced plans to contact the filmmakers directly, demanding a trigger warning. 🩺🚨

Public reaction was swift and visceral. An EpiPen user who saw the film told Daily Mail, “I was totally shocked and traumatized by the anaphylactic scenes with allergies weaponized. I am shaking.” Another viewer, a doctor and mother of children with allergies, added, “Allergic reactions are medical emergencies—not comedy material. Portrayals like this can reinforce dangerous myths and minimize just how serious anaphylaxis is.” Social media erupted, with X posts like, “How did NO ONE on The Roses set think this scene was a bad idea? 😤 #AllergyAwareness.” Another user fumed, “This is reckless. Food allergies kill. Shame on Searchlight.” 😢

The Broader Context: Allergies and Media Responsibility

The backlash highlights a growing sensitivity to how medical conditions are depicted in media. Anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction, affects millions worldwide, with food allergies impacting 6% of adults and 8% of children in the U.S., per the CDC. In the UK, hospital admissions for anaphylaxis have risen 615% since 1992, per The Guardian. The Natasha Foundation’s advocacy has led to “Natasha’s Law,” mandating clear allergen labeling on prepackaged foods, reflecting the issue’s gravity. Misrepresenting such conditions risks normalizing dangerous behaviors, like withholding life-saving medication, which can lead to fatal outcomes within minutes. ⚠️

Critics argue the scene plays into a broader pattern of Hollywood trivializing serious issues for shock value. The Roses isn’t the first to face such scrutiny—films like Peter Rabbit (2018) were criticized for depicting allergy bullying, prompting Sony Pictures to apologize. The Daily Mail noted that The Roses’ producers were contacted for comment but had not responded publicly as of September 2, 2025, leaving fans and advocates frustrated. Some defend the film, arguing that its dark comedy context justifies the scene. An X user wrote, “It’s a movie about a toxic marriage—of course it’s extreme! People need to chill. 😒” Yet, the majority of feedback leans toward outrage, with calls for trigger warnings or even scene edits. 📽️

Behind-the-Scenes Tensions: Did On-Set Dynamics Play a Role?

Adding fuel to the controversy, Daily Mail reported tensions between Colman and Cumberbatch during filming, which took place in Salcombe, Devon, and Los Angeles in 2024. Sources claimed Cumberbatch’s method acting clashed with Colman’s “no-nonsense, let’s get on with it” approach, creating a strained atmosphere. An insider told The Mail on Sunday, “It was supposed to be an easy comedy, but Benedict’s overthinking made chemistry tricky.” While the actors’ on-screen rapport is undeniable—described by Rolling Stone as “Advanced Screen Chemistry 108”—off-screen friction may have influenced the film’s bold choices, including the allergy scene. Could a lack of cohesion have led to oversights in sensitivity? Speculation abounds, but no direct link has been confirmed. 🎭

Both actors, however, have a history of tackling challenging roles with finesse. Colman, 51, won an Oscar for The Favourite (2018) and has starred in The Crown and Broadchurch, mastering both drama and comedy. Cumberbatch, 49, known for Sherlock and Doctor Strange, brings physical comedy and wit to Theo. Their performances elevate The Roses, with IMDb praising their “masterclass in flexing between comedy and drama.” Yet, the controversy threatens to overshadow their efforts, raising questions about the responsibility of high-profile stars in project oversight. 🌟

Artistic Freedom vs. Ethical Storytelling

The debate over the allergy scene taps into a larger conversation about balancing artistic freedom with ethical storytelling. Dark comedies like The Roses thrive on pushing boundaries, and the film’s R rating reflects its provocative content. McNamara’s script, rooted in Adler’s novel, aims to shock, with scenes of domestic chaos—Theo getting drunk on a flight, Ivy vomiting in a bath—designed to mirror the couple’s unraveling. The Hollywood Reporter noted that the film “recognizes there’s plenty to say about how matrimony can devolve into acrimony,” using humor to explore pain. But where is the line when humor risks harm? 🤔

Advocates argue that trigger warnings, as demanded by the Natasha Foundation, could mitigate distress without compromising creativity. Films like Joker (2019) have used warnings for violence, setting a precedent. Others contend that editing the scene would dilute the film’s raw edge. NPR’s review noted, “The way divorce turns the Roses vicious to their cores is not part of this telling,” suggesting the remake softens the original’s cruelty—yet the allergy scene feels like an outlier in its intensity. Collider argued, “Roach seems scared of giving audiences truly detestable characters,” which may explain why the scene’s shock value feels miscalculated. 🎥

The Impact on The Roses and Its Stars

The controversy has cast a shadow over The Roses’ box office prospects. Despite earning $800,000 in previews and projecting $7 million over the Labor Day weekend, per Wikipedia, negative buzz could dampen turnout. Social media campaigns, like #BoycottTheRoses, are gaining traction, with one X post stating, “I love Colman, but I can’t support a film that mocks allergies. 😠” Conversely, defenders argue the scene is contextual, with one user posting, “It’s fiction, not a how-to guide. Art should provoke. #TheRoses.”

For Colman and Cumberbatch, the backlash is a rare misstep. Both are executive producers, raising questions about their role in approving the scene. Neither has commented directly, though Colman’s history of empathy—seen in her advocacy for mental health—suggests she may address the issue soon. Cumberbatch, praised for his professionalism, could also face scrutiny, given his method acting reportedly shaped Theo’s darker moments. Vanity Fair noted their off-screen friendship, with Colman calling Cumberbatch “brilliant” at the premiere, but the controversy may test their public image. 😔

Industry and Audience Reactions: A Divided Response

The industry is split. Some, like Rendy Reviews, praise the film’s “darkly funny marital portrait,” arguing the scene fits its tone. Others, like The Globe and Mail, call the film a “disappointment” compared to the 1989 original, with the allergy scene exacerbating its flaws. Audiences are vocal: an IMDb review lamented, “Trying to make domestic violence funny meant this was a waste of a good sleep,” while another raved, “Colman and Cumberbatch are a cinema hit! 🤩”

Advocacy groups are pushing for change. The Natasha Foundation’s call for trigger warnings aligns with growing demands for sensitivity in media, seen in campaigns against fatphobia in The Whale (2022). The controversy could prompt Searchlight to add warnings or edit digital releases, a move Sony made with Peter Rabbit. Meanwhile, fans of the original War of the Roses argue the remake lacks its predecessor’s bite, with one X user noting, “The 1989 film was meaner but didn’t mock medical emergencies. 😬”

What’s Next for The Roses?

As the debate rages, The Roses faces a pivotal moment. Will the controversy derail its success, or will the star power of Colman and Cumberbatch carry it through? The film’s exploration of marriage’s darker side remains compelling, but the allergy scene’s fallout underscores the need for sensitivity in storytelling. The Independent called it “relentlessly entertaining,” but the question lingers: at what cost? For now, audiences are left grappling with a film that’s as provocative as it is polarizing, a reminder that even the sharpest comedies can cut too deep. 🎬⚡