Carrie Fisher, star of the upcoming Star Wars: The Force Awakens, has spoken out against UK cinemas’ choice not to show an advert for the Church of England before the film. The advert, which is one minute in length, features the lord’s prayer. Fisher, speaking to the Mail on Sunday, has said that “People should get a life” in response to the decision, which is being reported as an attempt not to offend members of the public.
However, Digital Cinema Media (DCM) who are responsible for the move, clearly state on their website that they maintain the right to refuse any material that might “in the reasonable opinion of DCM constitute political or religious advertising“. Which is, as stated, a completely reasonable and responsible thing to do.
Fisher continued, “I have never seen an advertisement like this, but if the theatre is like a hotel room, then they have every right to put up a power of prayer advert. It’s advertising, so it has to be advertisers that are objecting“. Unfortunately for the actor who portrays Leia Organa in the Star Wars franchise, anyone has the right to make an advert, but it is up to companies like DCM, who are responsible for the Odeon, Cineworld, and Vue outlets in the UK, to decide whether the advert is suitable in their locations.
The Church of England has released statements about the decision, stating that it will have a “chilling effect on free speech“, and inciting an investigation from the government’s discrimination watchdog, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC). In cases like this, the phrase ‘free speech’ is often tossed around, though few seem to understand what it means. No one in this example is stopping the Church of England from saying anything they want to say; however, a responsible company is refusing the church a platform to advertise itself to paying customers.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens opens in UK cinemas on December 17.
#Peace.Love.CarrieFisher
