A mum has hit back at cinemas for refusing entry for people who are dressed up in suits.
This comes as Odeon Cinemas are refusing tickets for people who are wearing suits after a TikTok trend went viral. The trend, known as 'Gentleminions', shows teenagers dressed up in suits, copying Gru's pose, to go and watch Minions: Rise of Gru and some cinema are now enforcing a dress code to prevent 'rowdy teens'.
A spokesperson for Odeon cinemas told the PA news agency: “Due to a small number of incidents in our cinemas over the weekend we have had to restrict access in some circumstances.”
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But one mum has slammed the rule after her son and his friend were refused entry until they took off their suit jackets. Her son phoned her upset and then she took to a popular parenting forum to ask if she should complain to the cinema.
Remaining anonymous, she wrote on Mumsnet : "DS [dear son] and his friend (both 13) had tickets this evening for Minions: Rise of Gru. Like lots of people per TikTok, they dressed up in suits/ties - just for fun.
"Got to cinema and were told they couldn't come in because of what they were wearing. DS called me upset and DH [dear husband] went down to see if he could sort it. Found five grown men standing over them and a few other kids, shouting at them that they needed to leave and they were not allowed in. Kids felt very intimidated."
She added: "No dress code visible in the cinema or on the website. DH asked if they had misbehaved and was told, 'no, we just don't like this suit thing as some of the people on TikTok have kicked off'. DH pointed out, they hadn't kicked off, just wanted to watch the film, so what was the problem. Stoney silence."
"He took them outside, took their jackets and ties off and they went back in five minutes later and were admitted by a different member of staff. Is it just me or is this ridiculous? I really want to complain but wanted the Mumsnet population to vote on if you think they were being unreasonable or not."
The post quickly gained attraction with over 500 comments and opinions were split. Many agreed that the trend was being disruptive with videos showing young people trashing the venue, while others simply said it was a bit of fun.
One Mumsnet user sided with the cinema, pointing out that some groups of teens are causing disruption: "There's been challenges happening on TikTok with this, in my ex local cinema 350 dressed up teens turned up, made a massive mess and nobody was able to watch the screening. So the cinema probably knows about this 'challenge' and are doing this to prevent it!"
Another agreed: "There’s a current TikTok trend with teens to go to the cinema in suits and trash it. Especially for Minions. And this had already happened earlier in the day at the cinema. Ask yourself why your son and his mates were wearing suits? And tales about wanting to dress up, etc probably aren’t true."
"My teen showed me a couple of videos of kids acting up in the local cinema during this, it basically looked like a really weird rave! I can see why companies are being careful with admittance, you'd be gutted if you were there with smaller children and that happened", a third added.
Another could see why the cinema took the action it did but also added it could be handled differently. She said: "I didn't know anything about this until I read this thread. But under the circumstances I can see why the cinema would refuse entry to groups of that demographic, in suits.
"It's a shame for the kids who wouldn't spoil the film for others, but given the number that are either throwing stuff around, or otherwise making the experience rubbish for the rest of the audience and the staff, the ban seems reasonable enough.
"Of course it would be good if the cinema staff could a) make it clear via (at least) a large sign in the reception area, and b) talk calmly and reasonably to those that they cannot let in. But of course I imagine that many teenaged boys would not respond calmly and reasonably to them if they did."
"This explains the teens I saw in suits yesterday! I think it's funny - it's nice to see kids being daft, rather than the other stuff which goes on where I live", one commented kindly.
And another agreed: "My son and his friends went yesterday wearing suits, I thought it was really fun. Laughing at the TikTok what's the world coming to handwringing. Just because you don't get it doesn't mean there's anything wrong with it. Teenagers gonna teenage."
What do you think about cinema's stopping teenagers wearing suits to watch the new Minions film? Let us know in the comments.
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