Netflix smash hit The Kissing Booth has been accused of ‘romanticising abuse’, after a scene from the film was shared on TikTok, showing the lead actress being pressured to get into her angry boyfriend’s car.
The film, which is based on the novel of the same name written by a Welsh teenager, was released in 2018, while its sequel The Kissing Booth 2, dropped on the streaming service last week.
It tells the tale of LA teenager Elle Evans, played by Joey King, who falls in love with Noah Flynn, portrayed by Jacob Elordi, the older brother of her best friend.
Sharing a clip to TikTok, viewer Ryan Maxwell from Manchester accused the film of ‘romanticising abuse’, highlighting a scene where Elle runs away from Noah following a fight.
Meanwhile, viewers have pointed out on Twitter that Noah tries to stop other boys dating Elle and tried to pass it off as being protective, while others claimed it’s littered with ’emotional abuse, manipulation and toxic masculinity’.
Viewers have pointed out on Twitter that Noah tries to stop other boys talking to Elle and tried to pass it off as being protective, while others claimed it’s littered with ’emotional abuse, manipulation and toxic masculinity’.
In the scene, Noah gets increasingly angry at his love interest, shouting ‘Elle come back’, before slamming his hand on the car bonnet and urging her to get in the car’.
‘What an awful example to set to young girls,’ Ryan says in the clip which has racked up more than 2.2million views in 24 hours.
Speaking his way through the scene, Ryan explains: ‘I have a problem with the Kissing Booth.
‘There’s a scene here where the guy has lost his temper and she runs away from him. He’s trying to get her to get in his car, and sensibly she won’t get in the car because clearly he’s got anger issues.’
Ryan Maxwell from Manchester (left) said this scene in Netflix film The Kissing Booth (right) was ‘romanticising abuse’ highlighting a scene where Elle runs away from Noah following a fight.
In the scene, Noah gets increasingly angry at his love interest, shouting ‘Elle come back’ before slamming his hand on the car bonnet and urging her to get in the car’.
Ryan says that Elle’s face ‘tells me she’s about to kick off at him,’ adding that he’s disappointed she then gets in the car.
‘Just some advice, if a guy with that level of aggression tells you to get in his car and slams the car bonnet, then you get in it because he says the word please, you are putting yourself at massive risk.
‘I don’t wanna be too much of a Karen, but what an awful example to set to young girls. Is it just me?’ he asks.
He later clarified he should have said ‘young people’ not ‘young girls’ because the behaviour is dangerous to anyone.
Ryan (pictured) says that Elle’s face ‘tells me she’s about to kick off at him,’ adding that he’s disappointed she then gets in the car
From left: Joey King, Joel Courtney, and Meganne Young in The Kissing Booth 2, which was released last week and quickly soared to the top of Netflix charts
While The Kissing Booth was panned by critics, it saw huge streaming success. Joey King is pictured in the first film
‘This behaviour shouldn’t be normalised. It’s not cute or romantic. It’s abusive. @ me’ he added.
Thousands of people agreed with Ryan’s take in the comments section of the post.
‘Yes yes yes. We romanticise abuse,’ said one.
‘I broke up IMMEDIATELY with my bf when he did that. I said, “Oh no, we are done” and I left,’ (sic) added another.
‘And you have just made yourself the responsible older brother of TikTok,’ commented a third.
Dr Julie Smith, a psychologist who has more than a million followers added her praise by posting a series of clapping emojis under the video.
Many more said they agreed with him, and even pointed out other parts of the film which sends ‘bad messages’.
‘You are totally NOT being a Karen, you’re totally right,’ one wrote.
‘Facts. Emotional abuse and anger are romanticised so much in media and film today. It’s masked as “passion”,’ said another.
One user pointed to a scene in the Kissing Booth 2 where Noah calls Elle’s school pretending to be her father because he’s been ignoring her calls.
‘Most teen romance movies teach girls to go for verbally abusive and aggressive boys/men. It isn’t okay,’ one claimed.
The film is based on The Kissing Booth, which was written by Newport-born Beth Reekles, when she was only 15. Joey King (right) is pictured in the first gilm
‘Seen this with my daughter and paused it and had a word with her told her no one should speak to you like this!’ said another.
‘I thought this too. It’s really quite uncomfortable how coercive and controlling he is,’ said one.
While The Kissing Booth was panned by critics, it saw huge streaming success.
Speaking to Vulture in 2018, Netflix’s cheif content officer Ted Sarandos said it was ‘“one of the most-watched movies in the country, and maybe in the world” while its sequel, released at the end of last month, quickly soared to the top of the UK trending charts.
The film is based on The Kissing Booth, which was written by Newport-born Beth Reekles, when she was only 15.
Beth, now 24, wrote anonymously on an online literary forum called Wattpad, where her work accumulated more than 19 million ‘reads’ in two years.
Aged 17, a week after she submitted her University application, Penguin Roundhouse offered Beth a three-book deal for The Kissing Booth, Rolling Dice, and Out of Tune. She also published a short story ‘Cwtch Me If You Can’ with Roundhouse.
The Kissing Booth was directed by Vince Marcello, who Beth praised and said she had a ‘great conversation with’ over the screenplay.
Despite the rights being bought by a British company, it was filmed in South Africa.