A Richmond Hill movie theatre is the latest party to pull a Tamil action film from its screens after a series of incidents over the weekend that targeted theatres showing the film.
In a statement issued Wednesday, York and Woodside Cinemas said they plan to “cease all further screenings of the movie ‘Theri.’”
The theatre, which specializes in showing a selection of multicultural films, said it came under attack on Saturday evening by “unknown assailants” who vandalized the premises on York Boulevard, in the East Beaver Creek Road and Highway 7 area.
York Regional Police confirmed Wednesday that they were called about vandalism at the theatre’s washroom over the weekend.
The incident Saturday came a day after a noxious substance was released simultaneously at Cineplex theatres in Brampton, Mississauga and Scarborough where the film was being screened. Police have said the substance was similar to pepper spray. Several people were treated at the scene, but none were seriously injured.
A similar incident a week earlier at Scarborough Town Centre forced the evacuation of the movie theatre and food court.
Police in Toronto and Peel Region are investigating those cases and have said it is too early to say what the motive was or whether they are all linked.
York and Woodside Cinemas said Wednesday that fraudulent social media accounts linked the Cineplex incidents to individuals connected to York and Woodside Cinemas.
“These accusations are categorically false and are not supported by any fact whatsoever,” the theatre said in its statement.
The theatre said it has cancelled all further screenings of ‘Theri’ “as part of our ongoing commitment to the safety of our employees and patrons.”
It wasn’t clear why theatres showing the film might have been targeted.
