Breaking Down The Roses Controversy

20th Century Studios

Recently released film “The Roses” has sparked controversy throughout the allergy community.

Ivy (Olivia Colman) and Theo (Benedict Cumberbatch) see their marriage fall into shambles as they undergo a cruel competition, and the scene under fire is particularly dark. Theo intentionally bakes a raspberry cake, knowing his wife is deathly allergic to raspberries. Once her reaction begins, he withholds her EpiPen until she signs divorce papers. Ivy pretends to sign, and Theo finally injects the EpiPen — into her arm. They then continue their confrontation as if a life-threatening medical emergency had never happened.

There are many criticisms of this scene, but perhaps the most crucial and dangerous is the medical inaccuracy. In a world where the number of people born with food allergies continues to rise, widespread knowledge of correct treatment is essential. In the movie, her EpiPen is injected into her arm rather than the correct site — the outer thigh. This mistake, if made in real life, could slow absorption of epinephrine and fail to stop the reaction. Though food allergy awareness isn’t as common as it should be, many people do know that an EpiPen is injected into the outer thigh, not the arm. It seems the filmmakers didn’t take care to portray a life-saving medication correctly — something that could’ve been solved with a simple Google search.

After Ivy takes her EpiPen, she goes on with her day, as if EpiPens are a magical cure to anaphylaxis. This is wildly misleading. After an allergic reaction, patients should always go to the hospital or call 911 to prevent a biphasic reaction. They often require antihistamines, steroids, or additional doses of epinephrine. It is unbelievable that this was showcased incorrectly. Surely someone involved in the making of this film knew the correct procedure, which makes the disregard for accuracy — and for a life-threatening condition — even more concerning.

Beyond medical inaccuracy, the scene itself doesn’t serve as a clever thriller twist. To many, it’s a tangible nightmare. Unlike fictional threats that feel far-fetched, like poisoning, anaphylaxis is a daily possibility for millions living with food allergies. The vulnerability of food allergies being used against someone isn’t an exaggeration — it’s real life. Many individuals with food allergies have been taunted, threatened, or even forcibly exposed to allergens as part of cruel jokes or intentional bullying.

Ethical storytelling and accurate portrayal could raise awareness, but instead this scene weaponized a medical emergency for shock value, rather than cultivating empathy or understanding. For families living with food allergies, this isn’t fantasy — it’s a real fear. Turning ongoing trauma into a cheap shot is exactly that: cheap.

We’re calling for Hollywood to consider the reality of food allergies in the lives of those affected by them; to take responsibility for the inappropriate use of this serious medical condition; to partner with those effected by food allergies by using their media platform to shape public perception of food allergies in a way that increases awareness, cultivates understanding, and illuminates the difficult reality of daily life with food allergies. We are a community suffering from a very misunderstood condition and Hollywood has the potential to get out stories out there in powerful ways that can create positive change for us instead of perpetuating misinformation that ultimately, could cost someone their life.