Amid Criticism, Theater Doubles Down On Female-Only ‘Wonder Woman’ Showing
Graphic by Angelie Zaslavsky
(JTA) — Management at a Texas movie theater laughed off criticism over alleged sexism in their decision to hold a women’s-only premiere of the film “Wonder Woman,” starring the Israeli actress Gal Gadot.
The backlash, which prompted the film theater chain to expand its women’s only program to other franchises, took place on Facebook against the Austin franchise of the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema chain of theaters, following the Austin theater’s announcement on social media that it will be hosting a women’s-only screening Wednesday.
Alamo Drafthouse creative manager Morgan Hendrix told Mashable that his company is “very excited” that it is “providing an experience where women truly reign supreme has incurred the wrath of trolls only serves to deepen our belief that we’re doing something right.”
Bill Fairbrother, one of several hundred people who reacted critically to the news, wrote on the Austin theater’s page: “Have you ever a men’s only showing of any film?”
The theater replied: “We’ve never done showing where you had to be a man to get in but we did show the “Entourage” movie a few years ago.”
Following the criticism, Hendrix said the chain will be “expanding this program across the country and inviting women everywhere to join us as we celebrate this iconic superheroine in our theaters.”
Why I became the Forward’s Editor-in-Chief
You are surely a friend of the Forward if you’re reading this. And so it’s with excitement and awe — of all that the Forward is, was, and will be — that I introduce myself to you as the Forward’s newest editor-in-chief.
And what a time to step into the leadership of this storied Jewish institution! For 129 years, the Forward has shaped and told the American Jewish story. I’m stepping in at an intense time for Jews the world over. We urgently need the Forward’s courageous, unflinching journalism — not only as a source of reliable information, but to provide inspiration, healing and hope.
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
