Rapman has responded after his gang drama Blue Story was pulled from cinemas amid violence.
The film has been banned from Vue and Showcase cinemas after a mass brawl broke out at Birmingham Star City, involving youths armed with machetes.
Blue Story’s writer-director Rapman wrote on Twitter that the violence was “truly unfortunate” and compared the controversy surrounding his film to that of Todd Phillips’s Joker.
“Sending love to all those involved in yesterday’s violence at Star City in Birmingham,” he wrote. “It’s truly unfortunate that a small group of people can ruin things for everybody. Blue Story is a film about love, not violence.
“There were also a few incidents earlier this year with the release of Joker. It’s always unfortunate, but I hope that the blame is placed with the individuals and not an indictment of the film itself.
“I pray that we can all learn to live with love and treat each other with tolerance and respect.”
Police said up to 100 teenagers were involved in the “major disorder” and officers were left with facial injuries. A 13-year-old girl is among the five teenagers who were arrested.
Blue Story is a London-set gangland drama about two friends from rival postcodes who are caught in a feud.
The film, which stars Top Boy actor Michael Ward, is rated 15 and includes “very strong language, strong violence, threat, sex, drug misuse”.
