AMC Theaters has issued an apology to a North Carolina man after he was not allowed to use his wheelchair to watch a movie and escorted out of a theatre in Greenville.
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In response to the incident, AMC Theaters’ Chairman and CEO, Adam Aron, has personally reached out to Bishop Barber and plans to meet with him in person to discuss the situation: “We sincerely apologize to Bishop Barber for how he was treated, and for the frustration and inconvenience brought to him, his family, and his guests.We encourage guests who require special seating to speak with a manager in advance to see what can best be accommodated at the theater to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for the guest and those around them. We are also reviewing our policies with our theater teams to help ensure that situations like this do not occur again.“
Bishop William J. Barber II, the minister of Greenleaf Christian Church, Disciples of Christ in Goldsboro, and a prominent social activist, shared his experience of the incident. Accompanied by his 90-year-old mother, Bishop Barber was at the theater to watch “The Color Purple” when he was informed that he could not use his own chair in the marked handicapped section. Despite explaining his condition, which required him to use a chair that did not require him to sit close to the floor, management called the police and escorted him out of the building, according to WNCT.
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“I have a disability myself. I have serious Ankylosing. I walk with two canes. I have bad hips and I can’t sit low,” Barber explained to the outlet.
“So whether I’m on Broadway, the White House, the State House, United States Congress, they always let me bring this chair. Never been a problem. In fact, other movie theaters, never been a problem,”
The Greenville Police Department also released a statement about the situation on Wednesday and said Barber was arguing with employees over the situation. No charges were filed over the incident.
“On Tuesday, December 26th, 2023, at approximately 3:20 pm, the Greenville Police Department received a call for trespassing at AMC Firetower 12, located at 1685 East Firetower Road. The caller stated that a customer was arguing with employees, and they wished to have them removed from the business. Two supervisors were dispatched to the call. When the first supervisor arrived, he spoke with the caller and at the request of the business, made contact with the customer, Bishop William J. Barber II. After a brief conversation, Bishop Barber agreed to leave the theater voluntarily.”