A Canadian theater company defended their decision to screen Unplanned, a film about how a former Planned Parenthood clinic director quit her job after taking part in an abortion procedure, after calls for a boycott swirled on social media.
“I have been working in this business for well over 30 years and controversial films on the big screen are not new to me, to Cineplex or to the industry as a whole,” Cineplex president Ellis Jacob said in a statement. “That said, the decision to move forward with screenings of this particular film was a complicated one and it was not made easily or lightly. But as Canada’s largest film exhibition company, I am confident that it was the right decision for us, for you, and for our country.”
Jacob pointed to how when he immigrated to Canada in 1969, the country did not not shy away from different view points and experiences.
“In this instance many of us will have to set aside our own personal beliefs and remember that living in a country that censors content, opinions and points of view because they are different from our own is not a country that any of us would want to live in,” Jacob said.
An open letter from Cineplex CEO Ellis Jacob, on our decision to screen Unplanned. pic.twitter.com/bkA7tx2NWt
— Cineplex (@CineplexMovies) July 8, 2019
In a tweet from the Cineplex account a few days before the statement, the company said, “We believe it is up to the public to decide whether they would like to see a particular film and our guests can give voice to their opinions by choosing to buy a ticket to the movie or not.”
Hi there, as a film exhibitor we provide our guests with movie choices. We believe it is up to the public to decide whether they would like to see a particular film and our guests can give voice to their opinions by choosing to buy a ticket to the movie or not.
— Cineplex (@CineplexMovies) July 5, 2019
Abby Johnson, whose experience is what the movie is based on, tweeted whether pro-abortion Canadians like it or not, the movie will be played in theaters.
Abortion supporting Canadians are all hot and bothered by the release of @UnplannedMovie on July 12! It’s coming, Canada! It’s time to see what I saw!
— Abby Johnson (@AbbyJohnson) July 6, 2019
