(Warning: Spoilers for the upcoming film Me Before You up ahead)
Disability groups have started the hashtag #MeBeforeEuthanasia to voice outrage over the plot of the upcoming movie "Me Before You." The movie is about a wealthy man rendered quadriplegic in a motorcycle accident. Despite falling in love with his caregiver, the character chooses to end his life via assisted suicide.
Fall in love with the story of Will & Louisa from #MeBeforeYou. Check out the new trailer & #LiveBoldly on June 3rd.https://t.co/xwemVq7ONy
— Me Before You (@mebeforeyou) April 29, 2016
Naturally, some in the disabled community are a bit ticked that a film promoted with the hashtag "#LiveBoldly" would effectively glorify euthanasia. They have been referring to the film as a "disability snuff movie," and protested outside of the theater hosting the movie's premier.
Protesters attack Emilia Clarke's new film Me Before You as a 'Disability snuff movie' https://t.co/teBlD8DC2C
— Not Dead Yet UK (@notdeadyetuk) May 26, 2016
TW suicide #MeBeforeAbleism because people think telling us they would kill themselves if they were disabled is some huge compliment
— ? sandra ? (@sicklefrijoles) May 25, 2016
Disabled activists from @notdeadyetuk & @Dis_PPL_Protest protest at premiere of #MeBeforeYou https://t.co/P0j9gItZiR
— BDEF (@BDEFbites) May 26, 2016
#MeBeforeYou #MeBeforeYouPremiere #LiveBoldly #mebeforeeuthanasia pic.twitter.com/alvNb4MXaR
— eleanor ?? (@e_lisney) May 26, 2016
What do you do when you have love, wealth, family and a hi-spec wheelchair? #LiveBoldly or kill yourself? #MeBeforeEuthanasia
— Catherine Hale (@octoberpoppy) May 26, 2016
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Other persons with disabilities have been sharing pictures of themselves "living boldy" counter to the ideas promoted in the film.
@MeBeforeYou says we’re better off dead than disabled. That’s wrong. Share pics and tell them how you #LiveBoldly. pic.twitter.com/Meg8AJsGRK
— New Mobility (@NewMobilityMag) May 26, 2016
Me, @SFdirewolf doin' our sad l'il best 2 #LiveBoldly. #PWD R over @MeBeforeYou's crap #MeBeforeEuthanasia narrative pic.twitter.com/agOeoKkHHA
— Ingrid Tischer (@IngridTischer) May 25, 2016
#LiveBoldly #mebeforeyou I've been married 12 yrs, loved for longer, disabled for 23 and #lovinglivinglife #notdeadyet #proudtobedisabled
— Theo Blackmore (@TheoBlackmore) May 26, 2016
All life is precious. Promoting euthanasia is despicable.
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