We all know that other people texting in the cinema is annoying but this is taking things to a whole other, very personal, level.
A man in Texas is suing his date for texting during 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2' because it was "kind of a first date from hell" and texting in the cinema is "one of my biggest pet peeves".
37-year-old Brandon Vezmar from Austin filed petition filed in small claims court last Thursday against his date, asking for $17.31, the price of the movie ticket to a 3D screening.
Speaking to American-Statesman, Vezmar said he met the woman online and went on their first (and presumably only) date to the film on May 6th, and that she started texting about 15 minutes into the movie and, according to his suit, "activated her phone at least 10-20 times in 15 minutes to read and send text messages."
He also claims that he asked her to stop and when refused, he told her to go outside (charmer). She then allegedly left and never came back. The real kicker, and we've a feeling this is where the fragile ego-bruised suit is coming from, is that she left in her car that they'd traveled to the cinema together in, leaving Vezmar stranded.
When contacted, the woman said she didn't know that the claim had been made against her and replied "Oh my God. This is crazy."
Admitting to texting a few times, she explained that her friend was having a fight with her boyfriend and that's why her attention was required. "I had my phone low and I wasn’t bothering anybody," she said. "It wasn’t like constant texting."
Vezmar says he texted the woman a few days later looking for the ticket money back (she claims he called her) but she refused because "he took me out on a date." She also claims that he contacted her little sister looking for the money and as such is planning to file a protective order against him.
Vezmar's suit claims the texting was a "direct violation" of the cinema's policy and that she "adversely" affected both his viewing experience and that of others around them.
"While damages sought are modest, the principle is important as defendant’s behavior is a threat to civilized society," he claims in the petition. Her response?
"I’m not a bad woman. I just went out on a date."
The internet at large has obviously had many a feeling about this.
@KevinNR My blood pressure rose when I read, "I had my phone low and I wasn't bothering anybody."
— reynolder (@reynolder) May 16, 2017
Texting during this movie definitely is a crime! https://t.co/Tn07tcAOZe
— Krista Kelly (@KristaKelly1584) May 17, 2017
@JamesGunn Him to her pic.twitter.com/DIUXZ1i19h
— Dean (@dsalangsang) May 16, 2017
@JamesGunn The article has a point. Movie is a terrible first date, unless you have dinner prior to determine if this is a text-in-the-theater person.
— Gillian Daniels (@gilldaniels) May 16, 2017
@screencrushnews Why is anyone's phone even on during a movie?
— Jon Martin (@jonkmartin) May 16, 2017
@JamesGunn I would have excused myself and walked into another screening in the same theater. Bye.
— Shawn Richter @PHXCC (@cofphoto) May 16, 2017
The fees he's paying to bring this suit (filing + service: $121) are 7x what he's asking for ($17.31).
Ridiculous.https://t.co/6CY7LPMiyT
— Brian Powell (@briandpowell) May 16, 2017
That's going to put a huge damper on the second date. https://t.co/MDKxR3Dipp
— MagnoliaPeach (@magnoliapeach) May 16, 2017
@screencrushnews @e1n People texting ruins the movie for every person behind them. This should be a class action suit.
— m&m (@Doomedlunch) May 17, 2017
'Guardians' director James Gunn, for one, thinks it's not enough (we really hope he's joking).
Why stop at suing? She deserves jail time! https://t.co/c41MWGz74M
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) May 16, 2017
Via Statesman