A second cinema chain has banned a new film from its venues after a mass brawl broke out at a showing in Birmingham.
Around 100 people were involved in the incident which took place during a screening of Blue Story at the Star City cinema on Saturday evening. Police were called following reports of youths with machetes. Five teenagers were arrested, including a 13-year-old girl, and seven officers sustained injuries at the scene, police said.
The Vue cinema chain said on the weekend it has banned the film from all of its venues. Now, a second chain, Showcase Cinemas, which has one venue just outside Cardiff, has also pulled the film from its listings.
Vue said it will no longer be showing the film at any of its 91 UK venues. The move comes as Blue Story's writer and director, Andrew Onwubolu, condemned the violent incident and said that his film was about "love not violence".
Onwubolu, also known as Rapman, described the incident as "truly unfortunate" and said he hoped it was not an "indictment" of the film.
Writing on Instagram on Sunday afternoon, he said: "Sending love to all those involved in yesterday's violence at Star City in Birmingham.
"It's truly unfortunate that a small group of people can ruin things for everybody. Bluestory is a film about love not violence."
The film focuses on two friends from different south London postcodes, on rival sides of a street war. It is rated 15 for very strong language, strong violence, threat, sex, and drug misuse.
Onwubolu added: "I pray that we can all learn to live with love and treat each other with tolerance and respect."
