Who doesn’t enjoy movies based on true crime events? But after how long should filmmakers wait before reenacting painful news events?

Premiered on October 1, 2022, the new film from Lifetime, “Gabby Petito,” has been ferociously criticized on social media.

The fictitious movie, based on the disappearance and death of Gabby Petito, features Evan Hall and Skyler Samuels as Brian Laundrie and Gabby Petito respectively, a pair who set out on an ill-fated road trip from which Petito never returned in June 2021.

The film premiered a little over one year after the travel vlogger was strangled and killed by her fiance. Last year, her murder captivated the country. 

Lifetime reported that the two-hour movie explores the strained relationship between Gabby and Brian and what might have gone wrong during the cross-country trip that resulted in the tragic murder.

Although the two families of the deceased didn’t participate in the film-making process, the events captured in the film explore the complicated relationship between the two and what might have transpired during the trip that led to Petito’s tragic murder.

Asked about her role in the film, actress Skyler said “that it was a little bit overwhelming to play the role of the vlogger; by the time I was presented with the opportunity, I was overwhelmed with hard decisions to make.” She added that she accepted the role and wanted to give Petito a voice and chance in her own story in a way that the mainstream media could not.

Co-star Evan Hall called the Lifetime film a “cautionary tale.”

The film has caused an uproar on social media, with many users referring to the timing of its release as ill-advised and disrespectful.

“They couldn’t wait a little longer? The family is still grieving and deserves some respect. Besides, the lawsuit is still going on, everyone has seen the real-time progress, and Lifetime has already shot the actors, is the whole movie ready? Sickening,” raged one user.

Another user wrote, “the case was a year ago and it’s morally irresponsible for the company to air such a movie.”

Some users used stronger language. 

The Petito family released a statement cautioning their followers that the Lifetime movie had no connection to the Petito family and they did not give their approval. 

In the recent past, true crime entertainment has received a lot of criticism, including the film “Monster” on Netflix.