A California woman recently attended a screening of the recent Blade Runner movie with a friend. While there, she left the theater to grab snacks and, when she returned, was greeted by a theater employee. This ended in an argument and an elevator shoving match, and now she’s speaking out.
Shay (@shaybayjay) says she was seeing the premiere of the newest Blade Runner movie at the Los Angeles Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. She sat down with a friend and then decided to go grab some snacks and use the restroom, so she left her ticket with the friend. When Shay returned to the theater, an employee stopped her and demanded her ticket. When she tried to explain that her ticket was with her friend, he wouldn’t listen. She did, however, have a pink wristband that they give you to admit you to the theater. Even this wasn’t enough to satisfy the hostile employee, who reacted with anger.
In the video, Shay tries to explain she has a ticket and the employee immediately puts his hand on her to shove her away at the elevator. She screams, “Get your hands off of me! What are you doing?! I have a ticket to be here.” The employee demands to see her ticket, but she keeps telling him that it’s inside the theater. He refuses to retrieve it and refuses to give his name to Shay. Shay accuses him of “assaulting” her and tells her to get “out of my face” as he walks closer and closer to her.
When she tells him that her ticket is in the theater and she can’t access it, he gives her a shocking response. In a sarcastic tone, he tells her, “Well, that’s a problem for you, isn’t it? Because you can’t go back up there.” When she can’t produce the ticket, he tells her she needs to leave the building. He says he’ll “have her removed” and that it’s “private property” even though her belongings and friend are inside the theater. He continues, “You’re trespassing. If I say you are, then you are.”
Shay confronts him about his behavior, confirming that he blocked her from returning to the theater. She goes on, “Then you proceeded to put your hands on me because of that.” He finally meets her with an attitude and states, “You’re being disruptive and I want you to leave. You have no right here. This is a privilege. You’re a guest.” Then he adds that she’s rude and failed to follow instructions.
In the end, Shay is confronted by a security employee, who sees her wristband. However, because of her interaction with the initial employee, they tell her she’s being removed from the property. The employee explains, “I have to follow that. I’m so sorry, but can I please have your wristband?” They won’t answer any other questions from Shay, and she gets removed from the building. Luckily, Shay said her friend met her outside, and they left together.
At the end of Shay’s video, she shows evidence of the fact that she had her ticket in her hand when she entered. She also shows that she was wearing the wristband that The Academy Museum gives you when you paid to see a movie. Shay didn’t receive the name of the employee who harassed her. However, she did reach out to the museum after the incident. They haven’t responded yet.
Shay’s video regarding the incident received attention and reactions from numerous commenters, many of whom were shocked by her mistreatment. As one commenter mentioned, “Museum should be a safe and welcoming space. I’m sorry this happened to you.” Another questioned, “Who are those men standing there not looking in that direction or like they see a man being aggressive with a woman?”
Others were shocked that the incident progressed to the point of removal when the situation could be have been rectified. As one commenter pointed out, “He could have just let you go grab your ticket.” Another commenter added, “The way I would have called 911. Girl, please press charges.” Commenters continue to share their opinions on how the situation was handled and call out the museum for its inaction.
