Cinema forced to stop film as bigots hurl homophobic abuse at gay couple
Vue cinema in Bury, Greater Manchester, had to stop a screening of Halloween Ends after a couple had been attacked with homophobic abuse. (SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images/Dinendra Haria)
A cinema has been forced to stop a screening of Halloween Ends after a group attacked a gay couple with homophobic abuse.
On Saturday (15 October) a large group reportedly became “disruptive” while at the Vue Bury The Rock cinema in Bury, Greater Manchester.
The incident, which occurred during the 10.15pm showing of Halloween Ends, saw a gay couple hit with homophobic slurs which the disruptive group launched at them before they were asked to leave.
It has been logged as a hate crime by Greater Manchester Police, who have confirmed the incident has been reported and is being investigated.
One of the men, who wish to remain unnamed, explained to Manchester Evening News he had attended the late showing with his boyfriend and their female friend, where they were subjected to the homophobic abuse.
‘I was at my wit’s end’
The man described the group as male teenagers who sat on the row in front of them.
According to the victim, at the start of the film, the group had been asked to stop kicking the chair of a girl in front of them, and one swore at her.
The group then got into a verbal disagreement with them, but the man decided to leave it as “there was a big group of them and we didn’t want any trouble”.
Throughout the screening, the group was repeatedly told off for talking and causing a nuisance, and after being given a warning they were asked to leave around an hour into the film.
After being checked by security staff who came into the auditorium to monitor the group’s behaviour, the incident arose.
The man claims a few members of the group climbed over seats to the back row, and his female friend told them “not to sit there”.
The group then became “verbally aggressive” before calling his boyfriend a “ba**y boy” and other homophobic abuse when he intervened.
“It all became a bit out of hand, and more staff came in before the film was switched off and the lights came up. We had been told the film had stopped and they would offer us a refund.
“I was at my wit’s end, it was almost laughable. They kept bouncing around, jumping across different chairs and then said to me, ‘what are you laughing at, you f***ing f*****’.
‘You come to expect it homophobic abuse’
“They kept using slurs – but it just sadly washes over you as a gay person. You sort of come to expect it and almost prepare yourself when there are a group of young people. We have heard it all before. They were just being vile with everyone and anyone who challenged them.”
A spokesperson for Vue said of the homophobic abuse at it’s Bury venue: “A group of customers was ejected from a screening of Halloween Ends on Saturday evening following complaints that they were causing a disturbance and impacting the experience of other guests. We are sorry to hear of this customer’s experience and will assist in every way possible during the police investigation.”
Inquiries are continuing into the incident and no arrests have been made.
