In a recent incident at a Regal Cinema in Fort Myers, Florida, two breastfeeding mothers, Sarah and Emily, faced an unexpected challenge while attending a screening of the comedy Bad Moms. Many of us have seen the trailers for the film and perhaps even caught a showing ourselves, but for these new moms, it became a night to remember for all the wrong reasons.
Sarah and Emily were part of a Facebook group of friends planning a fun night out, which included 50 women in total. Out of this group, 46 had already purchased their tickets to the movie. The excitement was palpable as they shared their anticipation online, joking about everything from the film’s content to the silky hair of Kristen Bell. However, their plans took a turn when they arrived at the theater with their infants.
To their dismay, upon picking up their pre-ordered tickets, they were informed that babies weren’t allowed in the movie. “No one communicated that kids under 6 couldn’t attend R-rated films,” one of the group members explained to local news. “We had breastfeeding moms with infants, one just 4 weeks old and another 7 months, and they were refused entry.” Instead, they were advised to watch Ice Age: Collision Course, a film that had already started an hour prior. Seriously? How is that a fair alternative?
While Bad Moms is indeed rated R, taking a baby to such a screening shouldn’t classify someone as a bad parent. In fact, Regal Cinemas typically allows minors into R-rated movies as long as they are accompanied by a parent or guardian. Babies, too, are welcome at R-rated showings provided they start before 6 p.m. Unfortunately, this particular screening was at 7:45 p.m. The issue stemmed from the timing, not the movie itself.
Sarah expressed her frustration, suggesting that theaters should exercise common sense regarding very young infants. “I understand they have rules, but they should consider that young babies often sleep quietly,” she said. Despite their best intentions, the moms ended up sneaking into Bad Moms after initially being directed to the kids’ film, only to be caught and asked to leave by the theater manager.
Imagine mustering the courage to take your baby out for a much-needed night of fun, only to be made to feel like a terrible person. “They made me feel awful for bringing my child,” Sarah shared. Attempts to reason with the manager fell flat, as he refused to listen even when the moms offered to sit at the aisle and leave if their babies made any noise. On top of that, Emily was reportedly told to cover up while breastfeeding, despite the fact that public breastfeeding is legal in Florida and not considered indecent exposure.
Frustrated and feeling disrespected, the group decided enough was enough. After receiving a refund for their tickets, they opted to relocate their evening to a nearby Mexican restaurant instead. Cheers to these resilient mothers and their supportive friends!
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In summary, the experience of Sarah and Emily serves as a reminder that common sense and empathy should guide policies in public spaces, especially when it comes to new parents and their infants.
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