On Saturday, Twitter temporarily suspended the account for the pro-life movie Unplanned, a film that tells the story of a former abortion clinic director at Planned Parenthood. The film was released on Friday.
“If Twitter is committed to helping increase the ‘openness and civility of public conversation’ and to hold themselves ‘accountable towards progress,’ then what’s with the censorship of a differentiating opinion?” Ashley Bratcher, the actress who plays former Planned Parenthood clinic director Abby Johnson, asked in a statement to PJ Media on Saturday. “Unplanned has used their platform to engage conversation on both sides of a controversial topic in a way that is encouraging and open minded.”
Bratcher reported the suspension on Twitter. “Trying to figure out why the [Unplanned movie] account has been suspended. 🤔 We need answers.”
Trying to figure out why the @UnplannedMovie account has been suspended. 🤔 We need answers. #unplannedmovie pic.twitter.com/rTIXVzHwI5
— Ashley Bratcher (@_AshleyBratcher) March 30, 2019
Mike Lindell, CEO of MyPillow and a producer of the film, also shared the news. “Why did Jack and [Twitter] suspend the [Unplanned Movie] account? They don’t want you to see this movie! Make your voices heard and tell your friends to go see the movie this weekend!” Lindell tweeted.
Why did Jack and @Twitter suspend the @unplannedmovie account? They don’t want you to see this movie! Make your voices heard and tell your friends to go see the movie this weekend! #unplanned #unplannedmovie @_AshleyBratcher https://t.co/MzZbs2Oq3l
— Mike Lindell (@realMikeLindell) March 30, 2019
Various users tweeted at Twitter and President Jack Dorsey, and the account was reinstated.
“Thank you everyone for your support in letting[Jack Dorsey] & [Twitter] know when our Unplanned Movie account was recently suspended without cause,” the film’s account tweeted. “We are back and excited for the great response we’re getting in theaters this weekend.”
Thank you everyone for your support in letting @Jack & @Twitter know when our Unplanned Movie account was recently suspended without cause.
We are back and excited for the great response we're getting in theaters this weekend.#grateful https://t.co/vTmhqoXIWm— UnplannedMovie (@UnplannedMovie) March 30, 2019
Lindell and Bratcher also shared the good news.
Why did Jack and @Twitter suspend the @unplannedmovie account? They don’t want you to see this movie! Make your voices heard and tell your friends to go see the movie this weekend! #unplanned #unplannedmovie @_AshleyBratcher https://t.co/MzZbs2Oq3l
— Mike Lindell (@realMikeLindell) March 30, 2019
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the account was mistakenly suspended due to its connection to another account.
After the account was reinstated, some argued that it should be verified with Twitter’s blue check mark.
The @UnplannedMovie account should also be @verified.
• It's in 1000 theaters right now.
• Official website links to this Twitter account: https://t.co/jDvAk6KyOk
• Already verified on Facebook: https://t.co/mz31bddVaE
• Already verified on Instagram: https://t.co/9Ow8Ji4A2g— Ryan Moore (@RyanMoore) March 30, 2019
Various television networks have refused to run ads for the film. Ad buyers told The Hollywood Reporter that Lifetime, The Travel Channel, Cooking Channel, HGTV, Food Network, The Hallmark Channel, and USA Networks all declined to run ads for Unplanned. Only Fox News and the Christian Broadcasting Network ran ads.
In its opening weekend at the box office, Unplanned has overperformed, earning $3 million from 1,059 theaters on Friday. The film is projected to make $6 million over the weekend.
Ironically, both the Twitter ban and the network blacklisting will likely help the movie reach its audience.
Follow Tyler O’Neil, the author of this article, on Twitter at @Tyler2ONeil.
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