Spoiler Alert !!!Major spoiler about The Drama ahead!
Anticipation was steadily building for The Drama, a movie starring Zendaya and Robert Pattinson. The A24 feature is directed by Kristoffer Borgli and centers on an engaged couple whose relationship goes haywire after they confess their darkest secrets before a harmless party game. Zendaya’s character says something in the trailer, which was supposed to be a big turning point and twist in the story. Now, online leaks suggest that it was about her planning a school shooting but not going through with it (via TMZ).
TitleThe DramaDirector & WriterKristoffer BorgliMain CastZendaya and Robert PattinsonProduction CompanySquare PegRelease DateApril 3, 2026
So, what was initially only a quirky rom-com about a relationship turning sour has now become the subject of intense public scrutiny after this detail has emerged. So, as the film approaches its theatrical release, let’s look at what’s being said about The Drama by people who were actually affected by such a tragedy and why the whole thing comes off as insensitive!
Columbine Shooting Victims’ Parents Slam Zendaya’s The Drama
Parents of victims from the Columbine High School massacre publicly criticized the movie’s premise, and the most vocal one of them was Tom Mauser, who lost his son Daniel in the 1999 tragedy that left 13 people dead. He feels deep discomfort about using such a subject matter for a romantic comedy setting (via TMZ).
He was also “irked” by seeing how Zendaya reacted to the topic in an interview on Jimmy Kimmel Live. When Kimmel says, “I could see this movie causing a lot of problems for a lot of people,” the actress’ reaction does not have the sensitivity and gravitas this topic requires.
Zendaya is one of the most influential stars in Hollywood, so her participation only amplifies the debate. Mauser also believes that casting someone like her in a role that is connected to such a topic might humanize perpetrators in ways that could be uncomfortable to families of the victims.
Why Robert Pattinson’s The Drama Twist Appears Insensitive
A still from The Drama | Credits: A24
While artists are allowed creative liberty, we are allowed to criticize them for it. In The Drama, they could have used any crime or action to show the fallout of their relationship. But using something like school shootings as a twist feels like they are trying to be intentionally provocative, which is questionable!
For families who are still grappling with the grief of their lost children, the difference between fiction and reality can feel thin. The problem isn’t the subject matter, but the context in which it’s used, because a dark romantic comedy will typically be linked to humor, irony, and relationship drama.
No one would think it has anything to do with mass violence. Plus, what’s being marketed as a “twist” should actually be a trigger warning for those who have suffered the trauma. This whole ploy of not leaking this turning point because they don’t want The Drama ruined is completely inconsiderate of people who don’t know what they’re walking into and will suddenly have to confront the most devastating part of their lives.
Even if Zendaya’s character mentions it in passing, people have to sit with it throughout the movie. But what do you think, is this completely unfair and calls for backlash, or are people overreacting? Let us know in the comments.
The Drama is set to release on April 3, 2026 (USA).
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