Zendaya’s new film, The Drama, directed by Kristoffer Borgli and starring Robert Pattinson, has sparked intense backlash due to its storyline involving a past school shooting plan. Critics, particularly Tom Mauser whose son was killed in Columbine High School massacre, have condemned the premise as “awful.”
Sources close to production reveal that Zendaya is shocked by the intensity of reactions, stating the conversation has spiraled beyond what the film actually depicts. The intent was never to glamorize violence but to provoke uncomfortable discussion about accountability and consequence.
Industry sources note that the backlash reflects a wider discomfort with how Hollywood handles trauma, especially in America where such events remain frequent and unresolved. However, they also emphasize that the film isn’t celebrating anything; it’s interrogating these issues.
Zendaya acknowledges people are upset but believes audiences need to see the full picture before judging. The conversation itself underscores why storytelling like this matters, even when it makes people deeply uncomfortable confronting brutal realities.