Groups of teenagers are being banned from some cinemas for wearing suits following a TikTok trend. It is not a statement that you'd expect to read but comes in the wake of the release of the latest Minions film.
So why are they, first of all wearing suits to the cinema, and secondly being banned? Let us explain.
The trend started on the release of the long awaited film, Minions: The Rise Of Gru. Donning suits in the style of lead character Gru, teenagers then filmed themselves going to watch the film.
Posting videos on social media app TikTok, the trend grew and the videos racked up millions of views. Groups got larger and the, mainly, teenage boys, who call themselves The Gentleminions, got rowdier. Groups were seen celebrating “the five-year wait is over” and some even took bananas to snack on during the screenings, referencing the favourite food of Gru’s cute yellow helpers, called Minions.
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As the trend grew so did the 'celebrations'. Some of the viral videos show those taking part cheering and clapping loudly and being disruptive during screenings, and this is what has led to some UK cinemas to enforce dress code restrictions. Some UK cinemas have now banned groups of young people wearing suits during screenings of Minions: The Rise Of Gru.
A spokesperson for Odeon cinemas told the PA news agency: “Due to a small number of incidents in our cinemas over the weekend we have had to restrict access in some circumstances.”
The latest instalment in the Despicable Me franchise tells how "the world's greatest supervillain" first met the Minions. We join Gru, voiced by Steve Carell, as a 12-year-old boy in 1970s suburbia, plotting to take over the world from his basement. According to the film synopsis: "It's not going particularly well. When Gru crosses paths with the Minions, including Kevin, Stuart, Bob, and Otto - a new Minion sporting braces and a desperate need to please - this unexpected family joins forces. Together, they build their first lair, design their first weapons, and strive to execute their first missions."
It is not clear where the trend originated but the #gentleminions videos show suited groups attending the screenings and copying the main character, supervillain Felonius Gru, and his signature hand gesture.
Movie studio Universal Pictures, which produced the film, has endorsed the #gentleminions trend, tweeting “to everyone showing up to @Minions in suits: we see you and we love you”.
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