Netflix's latest romantic comedy, Office Romance, has left some viewers feeling 'traumatised' by an unexpectedly graphic moment. The film, which premiered last Friday (5th June), has sparked widespread discussion over its explicit childbirth sequence.
Plot Overview
The movie stars Brett Goldstein (Ted Lasso) and Jennifer Lopez as a lawyer and an airline CEO whose professional boundaries blur into a personal relationship. Lopez plays Jackie Cruz, a formidable yet underestimated CEO, while Goldstein portrays Daniel Blanchflower, a socially awkward British lawyer. As they flout their company's strict no-romance policy, Jackie's deputy Sydney Bloom (Betty Gilpin) grows suspicious. However, Sydney is heavily pregnant and, despite refusing maternity leave, goes into labour while confronting Daniel about his feelings for Jackie.
Graphic Birth Scene
The pressure of the moment forces Jackie and Daniel to admit their relationship, and Sydney gives birth shortly after in a surprisingly straightforward delivery. Yet the scene's graphic close-up of the baby crowning has astonished audiences. Viewers have taken to X (formerly Twitter) to express their shock, with one calling it 'the realest birth scene I have ever seen in a movie'. Another wrote: 'I think I've been traumatized... they literally showed a woman giving birth... vaginal. I did not need to see that!' Despite the shock, many still enjoyed the film, describing it as a 'cute rom-com'.
Actress Reacts
Betty Gilpin has since revealed her own discomfort with the prosthetic used for the scene. 'Honestly, I was pretty freaked out when I first saw the prosthetic vagina,' she told Variety. 'I had a nervous breakdown and then I was like, Oh, but I'll be holding the ultimate working mum's hand, Jennifer Lopez, so what could go wrong?'
Office Romance is currently streaming on Netflix.
