UPDATE: Showcase Cinemas Reinstates Blue Story After Earlier Ban
A second cinema chain has pulled the gang film Blue Story after a brawl broke out at a cinema in Birmingham over the weekend, leaving seven police officers injured.
Showcase Cinemas – which has 21 outlets in the UK – confirmed it had removed the film from all of its cinemas, saying the safety of its customers was “of the utmost importance”. The film had already been banned by Vue after the incident.
Rapman, who wrote and directed the film, said his film was about “love not violence” and condemned the fight.
In a statement Rapman, whose real name is Andrew Onwubolu, said: “There were also a few incidents earlier this year with the release of The Joker, it’s always unfortunate, but I hope that the blame is placed with the individuals and not an indictment of the film itself.”
A spokesperson for Showcase Cinemas said “after careful consideration” it had immediately removed the film from all of its participating cinemas.
“We remain in discussions with the distributor with regards to the possibility of re-introducing the film in due course. We apologise for any inconvenience but guest safety remains our top priority,” they said. Anyone who has already bought a ticket for Blue Story will get a full refund.
The move comes after police were called to reports of youths with machetes at the Star City multiplex on Saturday night. Two machetes and a knife were seized by police during the incident.
Six teenagers – including a 13-year-old girl – have since been arrested by West Midlands Police.
A 19-year-old man, a 13-year-old girl and a boy and a girl – both aged 14 – were arrested on suspicion of assaulting police on Saturday. Another boy, also aged 14, was held on suspicion of obstructing police.
While in custody, all five were further arrested on suspicion of violent disorder. They have now been released on strict bail conditions which ban them from leaving home at night or visiting any cinema in the UK.
On Sunday, a sixth teenager – a 14-year-old boy – was arrested on suspicion of violent disorder.
Chief superintendent Steve Graham said the violence was the worst thing some of his officers had “ever seen”.
“It is concerning, there’s no point pretending otherwise,” he said. “That’s why we’ve got plans in place, starting from first thing on Monday morning, where we’ll be sending neighbourhood policing officers into schools around Birmingham to try and find out why.
“We know that Birmingham isn’t unusual in this. Let’s not pretend that knife crime or violence in the under 25s is rare or is just isolated around Birmingham.
“There are no short-term fixes to this, so we’re prepared and we’re in this for the long run and we’re going to work with schools and other partners to prevent youth violence becoming an increasing problem.”
Blue Story’s writer and director put out a statement on Instagram on Sunday.
“Sending love to all those involved in yesterday’s violence at Star City in Birmingham,” he said.
“It’s truly unfortunate that a small group of people can ruin things for everybody. Bluestory is a film about love not violence.”
The film focuses on two friends from different south London postcodes, on rival sides of a street war.
It is rated 15 for very strong language, strong violence, threat, sex, and drug misuse.
Onwubolu added: “I pray that we can all learn to live with love and treat each other with tolerance and respect.”
