Sorry, you 22-year-olds who can’t live without it, you still won’t be allowed to text from AMC movie theaters.
As news got out that CEO Adam Aron at AMC was considering texting-friendly theaters — because “you can’t tell a 22-year-old to turn off their cellphone. That’s not how they live their life,” Aron said — the backlash on social media was immediate.
In The Star’s online poll, 97 percent of more than 460 voters opposed the idea.
And Jimmy Kimmel was not a fan.
So Friday morning, Leawood-based AMC Theatres tweeted reassurance that in-theater texting would not happen.
NO TEXTING AT AMC. Won't happen. You spoke. We listened. Quickly, that idea has been sent to the cutting room floor. pic.twitter.com/JR0fo5megR
— AMC Theatres (@AMCTheatres) April 15, 2016
“This is an idea we have relegated to the cutting room floor,” Aron’s statement said. “With your advice in hand, there will be NO TEXTING ALLOWED in any of the auditoriums at AMC Theatres. Not today, not tomorrow and not in the foreseeable future.”
Press reports we are considering test allowing texts in a very few screens. We know vast majority of audience wants no texting. 1/2
— AMC Theatres (@AMCTheatres) April 14, 2016
If ever, we only would pursue in a way that we can be totally confident ALL our guests will fully enjoy the moviegoing experience at AMC 2/2
— AMC Theatres (@AMCTheatres) April 14, 2016
Aron also went on to say the company plans to spend more than $1 billion to enhance its theaters.
While the news has pleased those who complained, not everyone was happy with social media’s power.
I love when rational thought wins out! Thanks @amctheaters for respecting moviegoers! https://t.co/OMa1bfWB2g
— Hollie Overton (@hollieoverton) April 15, 2016
AMC backtracks plans on 'texting-friendly' theaters after public backlash https://t.co/yCvO14ptYd pic.twitter.com/GDZeF7mkDe
— D-WAY INC (@DWAYINC) April 15, 2016
If the lesson of AMC backing down from the texting-in-theaters thing is that "Twitter rage works," I'm not comfortable calling it a win.
— Scott Renshaw (@scottrenshaw) April 15, 2016
I'm glad AMC will not allow texting in theaters because now no one will ever text in a theatre!
— Chris Regan (@ChrisRRegan) April 15, 2016
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