Why Emilia Clarke’s ‘Me Before You’ Is so Controversial

If there’s one thing audiences can’t get enough of when it comes to their big-screen viewing habits, it’s a sweeping romantic drama that tugs at their heartstrings and leaves them reaching for a box of tissues by the time the credits roll. In 2016, Game of Thrones alum Emilia Clarke appeared alongside Daisy Jones and the Six star Sam Claflin in Me Before You, an adaptation of the Jojo Moyes novel of the same name that chronicles the profound relationship that forms between a fun and bubbly caregiver and the tetraplegic man whom she is hired to help.

Though Me Before You became a knockout at the box office and grossed a whopping $208.3 million against a budget of just $20 million, the film did not receive glowing reviews from critics and stirred up quite a bit of controversy upon its worldwide release. Many in the disability rights movement felt as though the drama was a negative representation of their community, prompting protests and outrage. Let’s take a closer look at what the movie is about and why it attracted so much blowback and scandal.

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Release Date

June 3, 2016

A Poignant Romantic Drama Adaptation

Based on the popular Jojo Moyes novel of the same name, the emotionally-gripping 2016 romantic drama Me Before You tells the poignant story of a life changing bond formed between a tetraplegic man and his caregiver. It centers on the quirky and free-spirited Louisa “Lou” Clark (Emilia Clarke) who, after hopping from one job to another in search of fulfillment, becomes deeply connected to the paralyzed young banker Will Traynor (Sam Claflin). Lou makes it her mission to bring happiness and fun to Will’s life and lift his cynical spirits, ultimately breaking down his cold demeanor with her infectious personality.

Lou helps Will find a newfound sense of joy and meaning in the world despite his unfortunate circumstances. However, she quickly realizes her efforts may be for nothing when she discovers he wants to go to Switzerland for assisted suicide. As their bond deepens and romantic feelings naturally form between the two star-crossed lovers, the pair must come to terms with the trajectory of their personal paths as Lou makes it her mission to change Will’s mind and convince him that there’s plenty of life left to live.

Me Before You made its powerful premiere on June 3, 2016, and exceeded expectations at the box office, grossing $18.3 million in its opening weekend before completing its theatrical run with total earnings of $208.3 million against a budget of just $20 million. While moviegoers were swept up by Clarke’s scene-stealing performance of the charming Lou as well as her effortless chemistry with co-star Claflin, critics were less-than-impressed by the adaptation’s handling of its sensitive subject matter, giving the drama a 54% Rotten Tomatoes score against audience’s far-more-favorable 73% on the Popcornmeter.

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‘Me Before You’ Sparks Controversy & Protests

As with its literary counterpart, Me Before You sparked widespread protests and controversy upon its release due to outrage over the perceived message the romantic drama promoted, with many from the disablity rights movement feeling as though the adapation advocates that people are better off dead than disabled and that they are a burden to their loved ones and caregivers. Those who spoke out against the problematic depiction of disabled people also felt that Me Before You was pro-suicide so that their families can “live boldly,” while other critics of the film believed it was exploitative of the disabled community.

The decision to cast Sam Claflin in the role of the tetraplegic Will Traynor also came under fire by some audiences, who pointed out the hypocrisy of trying to accurately represent the life of a disabled person without actually hiring a disabled individual for the role or employing them in acting opportunities. #MeBeforeEuthanasia began trending online as did a campaign led by the group Not Dead Yet UK, which called the film “little more than a disability snuff movie, giving audiences the message that if you’re a disabled person, you’re better off dead.” Protests occurred in both the United States and the UK as well as Australia in the wake of the drama’s release.

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Author Jojo Moyes responded to the intense backlash from disabled groups regarding the film, expressing how she was inspired to write the novel from her own personal experiences with relatives who required 24-hour care, as well as an impactful article she read about a quadriplegic man who was taken to an assisted suicide center after convincing his parents. When discussing Traynor’s decision to end his life instead of embrace his existence with Lou by his side, Moyes said she was initially surprised by the controversy surrounding Me Before You, telling Stylist in 2016:

“The fact is, in the film as in the book, nobody else agrees with what he decides to do. This is not by any means sending out a message. It’s just about one character – it’s nothing more than that.”

Stream Me Before You on Prime Video.

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