Winona Ryder was left devastated in the days following the Columbine High School massacre - after the press used images of her brandishing a gun in cult teen thriller HEATHERS.
The actress made her name as a Hollywood A-lister after starring as a member of a high-school clique, who gets pushed into murdering her fellow students by her bad boy boyfriend - played by Christian Slater.
And Ryder recalls that when the 1988 film was released both actors received abuse from angry parents, who were adamant their children could copy the film's characters.
But the worst backlash came in 1999, after two students at Columbine High School, Colorado fatally shot 12 kids and a teacher before turning their weapons on themselves.
The U.S. press printed snaps of Ryder and Slater in the movie, aiming guns at their fellow students, alongside the story - and the actress was left shocked and dismayed by the warped comparison.
She tells Empire magazine, "We got a lot of s**t for it. When Christian (Slater) and I promoted it by speaking at schools and colleges there were so many angry people telling us how irresponsible we were.
"I remember when Columbine happened. The day after, the front cover of USA Today had a picture of me and Christian holding guns . It was so hurtful, I was as upset over Columbine as everyone else."
Edward Scissorhands is no ordinary boy, as his name may tell. Created by a genius...
With a powerhouse cast and an anaemic script, this violent revenge thriller never quite gets...
Phil Broker is an ex-cop sadly widowed and left with his 10-year-old daughter Maddie. The...
Phil Broker is a former DEA agent who moves to a beautiful small town with...
Much more involving than the usual hitman thriller, this film takes a deliberately personal approach...
Richard Kuklinski is a contract killer who has murdered over 100 men for a variety...
With a snappy sense of childish curiosity and lavishly skilled animation, Tim Burton makes one...
Victor Frankenstein is a young fanatic of science and loves making home movies with his...
Victor Frankenstein is a young boy with an interest in science and home movies....
Nina has always strived to be the best dancer in the New York City ballet...
Ronny and Nick are best buddies and business partners, their partners are good friends and...