Stacey Henson | The (Fort Myers, Fla.) News-Press2 hours ago
FORT MYERS, Fla. — All new mom Brookynn Cahill wanted was a night out with friends, but her fears were realized when she was asked to leave a movie theater.
Cahill and fellow breastfeeding mom Juliana Valverde, both of Fort Myers, had looked forward to meeting up Friday with friends at the trendy tapas restaurant Cru and the just-released R-rated movie Bad Moms starring Mila Kunis at Regal Cinemas at Bell Tower Shops in Fort Myers.
A group of 50 friends were excited to have a ladies night out Friday when a more
Through Facebook, a few friends had started an event to meet and to go out with their friends. Those friends kept inviting other friends until the group grew to more than 50 women. Forty-six of the women, including Cahill and Valverde, bought the tickets presale and chatted all week about their excitement of getting out of the house for fun. That all went bad in an instant.
"No one had communicated that children under 6 were not allowed in R-rated movies," said Amber Cebull, of Fort Myers, whose group had the cost of their tickets refunded. "We had breast-feeding moms with infants, one 4 weeks and one 7 months, and they refused them entry."
An R-rated movie means it's restricted – and younger than 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian. The rating is given for strong language and violence, nudity for sexual purposes and drug abuse. Regal Cinemas adds the restriction that no children younger than 6 may attend an R-rated movie after 6 p.m. The women were going to the 7:45 p.m. showing.
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Listed phone numbers for the local cinema are directed to a answering service with no way to connect to a person. Regal Entertainment Group, in Knoxville, Tenn., is closed Saturday and calls were not answered.
Cahill and Valverde, the only women in the group with infants, were singled out after they picked up their tickets and in front of lines of moviegoers..
"All day I had anxiety and was so nervous how she was going to be," first-time mom Cahill said of her daughter. "I was coming up with ways to say I couldn’t make it, but I need to get out. I have to do this and trust that she is going to be an awesome baby."
The employee told Cahill where to find the movie, then mentioned she needed to go to customer service because her daughter wasn't allowed in the show. They directed her and Valverde to Ice Age: Collision Course, which had been playing for an hour.
"They made me feel like a terrible person for bringing my child," Cahill said. They slipped back into Bad Moms, the babies sleeping. She said the manager caught up to them again and told them to leave.
"I think that they have a right to have their rules for their theater," she said. "But I think it needs to be a little different with the age limit. Young babies are sleeping and being perfectly fine. If our babies are going to make a noise, we know how to handle this situation."
Lawyer Gerry Olivo of Wilbur Smith Law Firm, and a friend Cebull, said it appears the company hasn't participated in any discrimination, in part because breastfeeding mothers aren't a protected class.
Valverde said, however, other patrons not with the group were accompanied by children who appeared to be between 3 and 5. She said she and Cahill took precautions, sitting on aisle seats, ready to head to the lobby if the children started acting up.
"They can't leave their child because the child doesn't take a bottle," Cebull said. "The option is to miss out, which is unfortunate. We were hoping he would be more flexible on that."
Florida is among states that allow women to breastfeed in any public or private place and exempts breastfeeding from public indecency laws.
Cebull and Valverde said the man they identified as the manager was unmoving, and once he realized Valverde was breast-feeding while talking to him, demanded she cover up. They said he also refused to let them talk to anyone higher in management.
"I am very modest about breastfeeding and, because of the fact I was doing it, I was even more embarrassed. I always have a blanket to cover," Valverde said.
Regal CEO Amy Miles told the trade publication CinemaBlend in March: At Regal, it's our job to provide the best moviegoing experience for our patrons, and we want to make sure there are minimal interruptions during R-rated movies. We best achieve this through controlling the number of children in these films.
"This is the type of the thing why policies need to be flexible," Cebull said. "When they are written, they don't cover every situation."
She said with the power of the 50 women in their group, they had hoped their purchases and willingness to monitor themselves would be enough to sway the manager.
As the conversation went nowhere, Valverde said she began to cry. That's when the other women took notice.
"I said, OK then, we're going to get our people out of the theater and leave,and you're going to refund our tickets?," Cebull said. "And he said 'OK'.
"And one by one, then four, five six, seven, eight started walking away," Valverde said.
Cahill said that's when she realized she was part of a "super awesome" group.
"I feel so loved by all of them and couldn't thank them enough," she said. "...We didn't just leave each other, we went and enjoyed our night in a different way."
Cebull said more than 35 members of the group walked out of the theater, and two-thirds of them continued the fun at Cantina Laredo.
Post by jeaniebueller on Aug 2, 2016 8:54:41 GMT -5
I am probably going to get flamed, but I seriously don't care about this. The rules are no kids in R rated films. Is it kind of asinine that they apply it to infants? sure, but its their rule and there are probably people who abuse the rule by bringing infants into movies that cry and make noise.
Also, I am kind of confused about how this article was written. Valverde said, however, other patrons not with the group were accompanied by children who appeared to be between 3 and 5. Were there people who brought kids that age into Bad moms and not forced to leave? Because that isn't right.
I am probably going to get flamed, but I seriously don't care about this. The rules are no kids in R rated films. Is it kind of asinine that they apply it to infants? sure, but its their rule and there are probably people who abuse the rule by bringing infants into movies that cry and make noise.
Also, I am kind of confused about how this article was written. Valverde said, however, other patrons not with the group were accompanied by children who appeared to be between 3 and 5. Were there people who brought kids that age into Bad moms and not forced to leave? Because that isn't right.
No flames from me. I agree with everything
It would seem difficult to come up with an arbitrary cutoff for exceptions to the No kids rule. Breastfeeding babies only? Then ft babies are excluded. Or extended breastfeeding kids
I thought this was going to be an angry review about the movie after the discussion here a few months ago.
So I see both sides. I see why they have the rule and I think he could have made an exception based on the movie and the crowd but then again, isn't part of getting out the house and going to an evening movie (specifically this movie) about getting away and and enjoying a night out. I think the theater could rectify this situation- have a special Mom's showing and call it a day.
This is dumb. DH and I saw Gone Girl a few years ago and there was a kid that was two or three there and I wish they had asked them to leave. The poor kid was crying during a murder scene. I know it's different than a 4 week old but they have to make the rules and draw the line somewhere.
Post by awkwardpenguin on Aug 2, 2016 9:05:15 GMT -5
We brought DD to a matinee of Spy (rated R) when she was maybe 8 weeks old? She had hearing protection and she slept or nursed the whole time. But I wouldn't have been offended/surprised if they hadn't let us bring the baby in.
Post by jeaniebueller on Aug 2, 2016 9:06:38 GMT -5
Also, I do feel bad for the mom, as it sounds like she really needed a night out, but this was just not the way to handle it.
"All day I had anxiety and was so nervous how she was going to be," first-time mom Cahill said of her daughter. "I was coming up with ways to say I couldn’t make it, but I need to get out. I have to do this and trust that she is going to be an awesome baby."
I feel so bad for that mom! I don't think she sounds entitled - if I were brave enough to take an infant to a movie it would never cross my mind that an infant wouldn't be allowed in. I don't see why it would have been so hard to accommodate her.
I get that she could have gone another time, but I also know how awesome it felt for me when I did a girls night with friends when my kids were infants.
I can't get up in arms about this either. There are rules, you weren't following them and the consequence was that you had to leave. I don't understand the sentiment of everyone thinking that they're special and that rules don't apply to them.
I get that it sucks that they weren't welcome with the babies, but really she should have called ahead and asked first. Since she didn't I don't really find it that surprising that they didn't allow it.
I'd also be mad as a movie patron if I went through the trouble of arranging my own childcare and assumed going to an R rated movie at 7:45, that there wouldn't be other people's small children.
I feel even less bad for the person after reading that she was told the baby couldn't go in and directed to a kid's movie (but WTF that it was already in progress). And then they slipped into the Bad Moms theater and got caught. So not only is she complaining about the rules, she tried to sneak around them too.
It's unfortunate that they didn't know before they arrived, and it sounds like they weren't treated well after the situation escalated (though there are always two sides of every story). But it's not that they're not allowing breastfeeding moms to bring their babies...the babies aren't allowed in shows after 6PM. I EBF both of my boys & am a big advocate for breastfeeding, but not here. This isn't a breastfeeding issue (or wasn't until the manager was apparently rude). When you choose to breastfeed, you have to accept that you have a choice...leave the baby at home or pass on some experiences. It's actually just part of having a kid, not just because of the way you feed your baby.
I had a "bottle refuser" too. Truth was that I wasn't willing to put the time, effort, and/or money into figuring out how to get him to take a bottle. I SAH, so it wasn't a necessity. But, with that, it meant that I had to occasionally pass on MNO events or other activities. That was my choice. My friends who work didn't have that option...a "bottle refusing" baby of a WOHM is VERY rare...the vast majority of babies will eventually find a non-breast way of getting milk when given no other option. It wasn't fair to my friends who HAD gone through that to have to share their MNO with a baby (who will inevitably change the feel of the night, even if he's perfect. Conversation stops/changes when baby does something cute, people take turns holding him, etc.). Now that I'm out of that stage, I want some adult things to be for adults only. And that includes R rated movies at 7:45PM. I'm with my kids ALL day...I want to be able to occasionally go somewhere with NO kids.
This sounds like a big mess and no one is without fault.
Post by sometimesrunner on Aug 2, 2016 9:32:06 GMT -5
This happened locally, as well. Except it was a 10:15 pm showing. I felt like a jerk not feeling sorry for them. You all are making me feel better about my stance. ha!
oh sorry I forgot that when you breastfeed you can NEVER LEAVE YOUR BABY. even for an R Rated movie with girlfriends.
wtf. these ladies give breastfeeding mothers a bad name. Sorry. If you want to bring children to a movie there are screenings of movies specifically for that. I don't want to see and hear a bunch of children when I'm out at BAD MOMS at 8pm with girlfriends. jesus
I didn't even read the whole thing, just the first part. lol
Well, this is weird. Who goes for a night out with the kids? I don't fault the movie theater. But I saw many a mommy and me matinee movie that was rated R with the baby. But they were all 10am and designed for moms. I don't think it is appropriate to bring kids into movies that are not designed for them to be there.
Look, when I am out for some time away from my kids, at an evening R rated movie, I don't want to deal with yours. Some places don't work well for babies - R rated nighttime movies are one of them.
I think they probably would have been fine if they had gone to an early showing. I feel bad that they were treated badly by the staff, but I don't agree that they should be excluded from the rule.
I love that our theaters have this rule. I've had far too many screaming kids in late movies they shouldn't be at. Midnight premieres with crying 2-3 year olds, no thanks. Our theater is a regal, and that regulation is posted everywhere at the theater.
I have 2 small children and one negative to that is limited nights out and rarely seeing an R movie. That's life.
I have zero sympathy for these women. The theater had very reasonable rules. Sure it sucks that you have to miss out on stuff when you have an infant but that's life. I would be pissed if I were at this movie and someone brought in 2 infants.
I can't be upset at this. Movies have ratings for a reason. I can't understand the logic of her not 'knowing'. Ratings are there for a reason.
If you're excited for a night out leave the kids at home. I have a son who refused bottles and I'm a working mom. It sucked but my son had to learn that if he wanted to 'eat' it had to be via bottle when I wasn't there. I didn't starve my kid mind you but he either waits for me to get home or takes the bottle. It took some time to make him comfortable with one but now he's doing much better on the bottle when I'm unable to breastfeed.
As a breastfeeding mom this rubs me the wrong way that it seems to be turning into a breastfeeding debacle over a situation where a bunch of women didn't plan properly and do their own research as to what they could and or couldn't do. And 50 women likely with children walking into an R rated movie while my happy ass is sitting down with friends kid free. I'd be pissed if they were allowed to stay.
There were 50 of them? Shit. They could have just rented the theatre and had their own showing. I would not like it if I went to a R movie at night with my friend and there was a baby crying. Sorry not sorry.
I was pissed this Saturday when a family brought their young children (aproximately 3 and 1.5) to the Tarzan movie, at the 6:30 showing. They were noisy. Dh kept giving them the stink eye. We got a babysitter for this and still had to hear a toddler crying.
I kind of feel like she knew the babies weren't allowed but she thought they were super special snowflakes because EBF and special snowflake bottle refuser and that they would be allowed in with their babies.
Also, I'm team I don't want to listen to your crying baby when I'm watching an adult movie at night.
I had a bottle refuser. Like a PP said though, because I'm a SAHM I didn't try very hard to force a bottle. Eventually he got old enough that he would just have some solids or BM in a sippy cup or just wait until I got home to eat again.
An EBF baby isn't an excuse to break rules. Sometimes it means you miss stuff. Sometimes it means you cut things short so you can get home to baby.
I may be the only one here, but thinking about it more. I'm a bit pissed that these moms can be so thoughtless towards other patrons in the movie theater. That their wants seemingly should trump other parents and couples / friends who may have planned a kid free night only to have to deal with 50 other women and their possible children.
I would never bring my young baby to a movie TBH. Mostly because I'd want to enjoy the movie I paid for, not be worried about leaving because baby is crying or needs to be changed. You can leave an EBF baby for a few hours. Nurse before you leave, nurse when you get back. Team theater on this one.
No, sorry the moms aren't getting my sympathy. In fact I wish there were no kids at all under 13 (not 6) rule for R-rated movies. I brought my kids/babies to tons of movies and they were fine...but they were all kids movies. I had a bottle refuser EBF baby, I get that...but an R-rated movie out isn't a necessity.