Cole Sprouse’s New Movie ‘Five Feet Apart’ Is Attracting Controversy
Five Feet Apart is one of 2019’s most anticipated films but it’s already causing controversy.
In the same vein of fellow YA adaption The Fault In Our Stars, Rachael Lippincott’s novel Five Feet Apart tells the story of young love between two cystic fibrosis sufferers who have to remain five feet apart to avoid cross infection.
The film stars Riverdale’s Cole Sprouse, as well as Haley Lu Richardson, who both worked with CF survivors throughout filming. The movie also consulted with Claire’s Place Foundation, an advocacy group for the disorder.
Check out the trailer below:
The response has been divided, with some people here for the movie and others worrying that the trailer is portraying cystic fibrosis in an unrealistic way.
Some fans are hyped about the tear-jerking movie.
I’ve watched the trailer for #FiveFeetApart three more times today and I don’t know why. Maybe because of Cole Sprouse.
No. Definitely because of Cole Sprouse.
— clemmings’ girl (@talkclemmings) November 9, 2018
Oh god @colesprouse just watching this trailer #FiveFeetApart made me cry!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm definitely watching this next year❤️🙏✨💕💛 pic.twitter.com/sUazbpeow6
— Engelbert Roque (@diyoutubengel) November 3, 2018
I may not be one for romantic films since my heart is dead but I’d be worse liar than Donald trump if I said the #FiveFeetApart trailer didn’t make me sob like a hormonal teenager
— Hollie (@HollWright16) November 2, 2018
On the flip-side, people with cystic fibrosis and family/friends are concerned the film is misrepresenting the disorder.
As a person with CF and who is currently in the hospital, #FiveFeetApart feels like another pity play, money grabber movie with “sick” kids exhibiting no symptoms of this chronic illness, and I’m once again disappointed by the misrepresentation of my disease
— Katie 🏥 (@marvelspotters) November 3, 2018
Please don't glorify our disease with a forbidden love.
Your teaching young CFer's that it's okay to be around each other. It's really not. #CF #FiveFeetApart— Briony 🦄 (@ItsBrionyRob) November 2, 2018
People with Cystic Fibrosis have such unique and amazing and terrible life experiences that we deserve to be the ones to tell our stories. I can't support a production that just wants to make money off our pain without taking our voices seriously. #FiveFeetApart #CysticFibrosis
— Elsie Tellier 💖 (@65PinkRoses) November 3, 2018
I hope the new movie #FiveFeetApart depicts Cystic Fibrosis seriously and doesn’t romanticize it. My brother has cystic fibrosis and it sucks so much. I hope they get that across.
— Becca Boerman (@BeccaBoerman) November 3, 2018
Not all awareness is good awareness and, personally, five feet apart is just another story in the long tradition of portraying terminal illness and disability by abled actors for the sake of making healthy people glad they're not personally sick or disabled.
— Elsie Tellier 💖 (@65PinkRoses) November 2, 2018
Ugh. Even the title is misleading. It's six feet. With a mask. Outdoors. Indoors, CF patients aren't supposed to be in the same room at all. After all the work we put in for CF awareness and funding research, this makes me feel sick. https://t.co/WCmsMyaBy7
— Brendan Allen (@SaintAmish) November 1, 2018
However, it’s not all negative from the CF community with some praising the film for boosting awareness.
@colesprouse having 2 daughters that have CF, I am so grateful that there is a moving coming out about the struggles and hardships that people with CF have. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!!#FiveFeetApart #cysticfibrosiscanada
— Matt Robinson (@cfkamloops) November 2, 2018
After seeing my best friend of 5 years suffer with Cystic Fibrosis, I am so grateful that all those with CF have a chance to be recognized through this film. CF is painfully tough, but it's victims are strong, and she has taught me that 💖 #FiveFeetApart
— olivia (@LivtheRat) November 5, 2018
@justinbaldoni Looks amazing ❤️❤️ I hope this movie spreads awareness about cystic fibrosis and I hope the CF community gets beside and supports this movie !! Love from a CF mum from Australia 🇦🇺 #FiveFeetApart https://t.co/SjMfiusxi4
— donna borg (@donnaborg78) November 2, 2018
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Five Feet Apart hits Australian cinemas March 22, 2019.