"I would say that whatever those kids in Florida saw, it's extremely
unlikely it was anything from 'Nymphomaniac,'" Matt Cowal, SVP of
marketing and publicity for Magnolia Pictures, tells TheWrap.
The response from Magnolia Pictures, which owns distribution rights
to the film, squashes internet rumors that arose early Tuesday.
Gawker picked up on a report Tuesday morning from UK entertainment
site MoshNews that suggested the clip was indeed a copy of the
latest trailer from "Nymphomaniac," which features oral sex among
other graphic acts.
"If the Gawker 'Frozen' story is true, it would've had to been
uploaded from the internet and repurposed by a particularly twisted
projectionist," Cowal said, adding that the trailer only exists
online and hasn't been sent to any exhibitors.
The Nov. 29 screening of the PG-rated "Frozen" was delayed due to
technical difficulties, and while the audience waited, a classic
Disney cartoon was played which unexpectedly switched to the graphic
scene, according to Fox 13 of Tampa Bay. Parents at the Regal
Cinemas Park Place Stadium 16 in Pinellas Park, Florida, described
trying to shield their children's eyes and ears from the offending
material.
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Magnolia tweeted a link on Tuesday to the Gawker
story about the incident with the hashtag #NYMPHOMANIAC, but Cowal
suggested it was merely tongue-in-cheek.
Regal Entertainment Group said in a statement to TheWrap that the
incident did happen, but would only say that an "incorrect movie"
played by mistake.
"In an isolated incident, the wrong movie did start Friday evening
[Nov. 29] in one auditorium at Park Place. Less than two minutes of
this incorrect movie were shown before it was stopped," VP of
marketing and communications for Regal Entertainment Group Russ
Nunley wrote.
"After the correct movie was shown, our manager gathered the
audience to apologize and offer future visits for free. At the end
of speaking, the audience applauded the theater manager for his
response and sincere apology."
Nunley added that Regal staff was taking steps to ensure a mistake
like this would not happen again.
[By L.A. Ross]
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