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The movie ‘A Star Is Born’ has been forced to change  classification in New Zealand after teenagers were “severely triggered” by the film’s final scene.

The movie starring Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga, now comes with a suicide warning in the classification notes after complaints of viewer distress from the Police Victim Support over Cooper’s character, Jackson Maine, hanging himself in his garage.

Further complaints were also filed with the Office of Film & Literature Classification by the Mental Health Foundation, shares Yahoo 7.

The film is rated M in New Zealand — “unrestricted, suitable for 16 years and over” — similar to its classification in Australia (also M rated).

The head of the New Zealand film classification board David Shanks told the Guardian he demanded a new warning be issued because many young people became “severely triggered” over the suicide scene.

“Many people in New Zealand have been impacted by suicide,” he said. “For those who have lost someone close to them, a warning gives them a chance to make an informed choice about watching.”

The Mental Health Foundation credited the film with discretion as the death happens off screen, but tells the Guardian that it heard that some viewers had left screenings feeling extremely distressed and requiring access to professional support.

A Star Is Born is rated R in the US, meaning those under the age of 17 require an accompanying parent or guardian.

If you are concerned about the mental health of yourself or a loved one, seek support and information by calling Lifeline 13 11 14

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  • I really feel like this was such a good movie but I agree that the scene in question come as a bit of a shock.

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  • It may be a spoiler alert but a warning is definitely needed at the beginning of the movie on such an important topic.

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  • Youd think it wouldn’t matter what country a movie is played it they’d all have the same rating, yes agree a warning should be played first.

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  • Big time spoiler alert, but I can see the worth in the warning. People affected by suicide have a right to choose if they want to view this content as it could trigger an emotional state.

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  • Isn’t this essentially a remake? Why is this worse than the first?

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  • is Australia going to do the same?

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  • I’ve heard a lot of support for both sides. It’s obviously a spoiler alert for anyone that hasn’t seen the movie. I’ve seen it 3 times and had no idea when I first saw it for how it would end. I did then suggest my son not see it – however he is 17 and went with 2 mates. I had already told him what happened in case it became an issue. And I have a friend who I have suggested she don’t see it at this point in time as she has a daughter dealing with serious mental health issue and I think it may be too upsetting.

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  • Oh that’s really sad, but yep it’s a spoiler alert.

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  • Argh!! Spoiler alert!

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  • Wow! Rated R in USA and only M in AUS…. that says something!…. our children need support, protection, education and above all help with these themes… about time we stepped up esp the film labelling industry.

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  • Yes certainly needs a warning. Not only for teenagers, but adults who have lost loved ones by suicide are in need of a warning to, so they know what they’re watching.

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  • Oh bugger, needed a spoil alert at the start of the article not the middle! Now I’ll be expecting it the whole time.
    Although if this is the case, it needs a warning

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  • They definitely need a warning ⚠️ at the beginning of the movie

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  • I don’t know the contents of the movie but if there has been complaints and they are justified there should definitely be warnings issued and perhaps local counsellers listed on the screen after the credits. Those who are 18 y.o. + could handle the contents of the movie badly too.

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  • Argh needed a big spoiler alert at the start of the article.

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