A seemingly innocent picnic date between Hollywood power couple Alison Brie and Dave Franco has sparked controversy after a leaked video showed them engaging in personal grooming at a public park.
According to Daily Mail, the Community actress was captured on video cutting her husband's toenails while lounging at Griffith Park in Los Angeles, leading to intense criticism on social media after the clip surfaced on Tuesday.
The couple, who have been married since 2017, appeared unbothered during the intimate moment, with Franco scrolling on his phone while Brie tended to his feet, casually tossing the nail clippings into the grass at the popular public space.
Social media erupted with disgust as the video spread across platforms, with many calling the behavior inappropriate for a public setting. "Doing this for a man in public is wild," read one viral caption that helped fuel the backlash.
Users on X (formerly Twitter) didn't hold back their revulsion, with comments ranging from "Yeah that's nasty Alison" to "I'm gonna throw up." The overwhelming sentiment was that such personal grooming should be kept private.
Several critics pointed out that the act showed poor consideration for other park visitors, with one noting "Seriously that's so gross - go to a manicurist and get a proper mani and pedi - no one needs to see that in public so nasty."
Some industry observers have suggested the viral moment may be a calculated promotional tactic for the couple's upcoming horror film "Together." The movie, which centers on a codependent relationship, has been generating buzz ahead of its July 30 release.
The timing of the video's emergence, coinciding with the film's marketing push, raised eyebrows among skeptical fans. "This is def promo for their movie and I am on board lol I love when movie promo gets a lil freaky," one social media user theorized.
Others agreed the public display seemed too outrageous to be authentic, with another commenter noting "This got to be for the new movie cuz why else would they be doing this in public?"
The incident has drawn attention to Brie and Franco's unique dynamic as both spouses and frequent collaborators. The pair recently opened up about their experience working together on "Together" in candid interviews.
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Brie acknowledged the intimate nature of their latest project, explaining that many scenes required unprecedented physical proximity that would have been challenging for non-married actors to film convincingly.
Franco echoed these sentiments while discussing their real-life relationship, admitting "Because we are married, and we work together constantly, I think we definitely could be defined as codependent."
The controversial clip has undeniably succeeded in getting people talking about the couple and their upcoming film, regardless of whether it was an orchestrated publicity stunt or genuine candid moment.
If the incident was indeed a marketing ploy, it demonstrates the evolving nature of film promotion in the social media age, where viral moments - even seemingly negative ones - can effectively drive conversation and awareness.
However, if the moment was truly spontaneous, it offers an uncommonly intimate glimpse into the couple's dynamic while raising questions about appropriate boundaries between private and public behavior.
