CEO Adam Aron’s statements have been panned on social media.
Yesterday, AMC Theaters, which has been closed for several months due to the pandemic, officially unveiled its reopening measures. These new measures, which will be enacted when theaters begin reopening on July 15, include increased sanitation efforts, seating restrictions, social distancing efforts, and contact-less transactions, among others. However, one major COVID-19 prevention measure that is being shirked is the requirement of masks. All theater employees will be required to wear masks, and masks will be available for a $1.00 fee to anyone who wants one, but they will not be required for theatergoers. According to AMC’s CEO, Adam Aron, this is because the company wanted to avoid being drawn into a political controversy.
“We thought it might be counterproductive if we forced mask wearing on those people who believe strongly that it is not necessary. We think that the vast majority of AMC guests will be wearing masks. When I go to an AMC feature, I will certainly be wearing a mask and leading by example,” Aron told Variety on Thursday.
This statement drew ire from social media, resulting in the trending hashtag “#BoycottAMC” from Twitter users who say they refuse to visit a theater unless masks are mandatory. These users have stressed that masks are an issue of public health and safety, not politics, and should be treated as such.
Both entertainment industry experts and medical professionals have joined in admonishing AMC for their mask policy. “The word that comes to mind is, irresponsible,” Doug Stone, president of Box Office Analyst, said. “Personally, I would not go to a theater right now if masks were not required.”
“I don’t think this is a political issue, ” former FDA commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb told CNBC. “Universal masking is one of the simplest interventions that we can take that could probably reduce the odds that we have another epidemic.”
Other commercial theater companies like Cinemark and Regal have announced similar protocols to AMC, including not requiring theatergoers to wear masks.
