The film is now rated a 12 for triggering moments, including ‘occasional transphobic remarks’
GB News guests teamed up to slam the “silly” decision to slap the 1961 adaptation of West Side Story with a trigger warning.
Political commentators Andy Twelves and Alice Grant criticised the decision, with the latter branding the move as part of the “woke agenda”.
The once family-friendly, PG-rated film adaptation of the legendary Broadway musical is now a 12 certificate.
The story is inspired by Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, setting the tragic romance in 1950s New York.
The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) declared the change after reviewing a number of themes and scenes which could “trigger” younger viewers.
A warning addresses sexism and “occasional transphobic remarks”, which is believed to be highlighting comments around “tomboy” Anybodys, a character interpreted as refusing to conform to gender norms.
Both guests appeared baffled at the move, with Mr Twelves saying: “I think it’s a bit silly.”
Mr Twelves went on to say if a warning should be supplied, it should address the brutal violence depicted, with the film including several scenes where stabbings take place.
He continued: “Unfortunately, you know, kids are starving. People are freezing to death.
Andy Twelves and Alice Grant took aim at the decision
“There are bigger things to think about than West Side Story for most people and the Government and any quango probably should.
In agreement, Ms Grant blasted the “oversensitiv-isation” of media.
She added: “It just reminds me of when I recently saw a trigger warning similarly on Breakfast at Tiffany’s with Audrey Hepburn because of stereotypes, there may have been portrayed in the film.
“As you said, there are so, so many worse things happening in our media and in our culture on our streets.”
Another warning for West Side Story now addresses “moderate violence, sexual threat [and] discrimination”, stressing characters smoking cigarettes and reference to alcoholism.
It flags people being “stabbed with clear sight of knife impact, though there is no blood” and another character being shot.
Eamonn reflected on going to see Grease for the first time in the cinema
Instead, Ms Grant condemned the “massive rise” of violence in films.
“There are shows I don’t think I would feel comfortable showing children, which seem to have no warnings whatsoever to do with violence.
“And yet when it’s something that is on the woke agenda, like gender or stereotypes, that seems to be flagged, this doesn’t really make sense.”
GB News star Eamonn Holmes pivoted the discussion to his latest rewatch of 1978 movie musical Grease, starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John.
He said: “I remember going to see it when I was 17. I was shocked because it mentioned lots of things that you shouldn’t mention, about pregnancies and contraception and all sorts of things.
“You were thinking, ‘oh my goodness, what sort of film is this?’
“And I watched it again on Christmas, Christmas Day. I really believe this may be one of the finest films ever made. So people, we all change over time.”
At this point, Ms Grant added: “I think you make a really interesting wider point, which is that there used to be a sort of point to films and to media that should be to sort of elevate you slightly culturally, or at least to give you a feel good factor.
“Something that you watch and you come away from feeling inspired in some way.
“But recently, I find especially on Netflix, and the shows designed for teenagers and adolescents are so awfully depressing,” she added, condemning the “dark subjects” that the shows address.
“As I’ve got older and you get pressures of work coming on you and things, I want something to entertain me, and you look at what’s at the cinema and this is about death, depression, people being kidnapped, people being tortured.
“I want escapism. I want Star Trek Wrath of Khan. That’s what I want. I want something like that.”
