UK: Theaters Accused of Racism For Giving Free Movie Tickets To Gingers, Redheads During Heat Wave

With temperatures soaring to over 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the UK this week, one cinema chain is offering redheads free tickets to stay cool in their theaters during the heatwave.

Brits this week are set to experience one of the biggest heatwaves in recent memory, with temperatures expected to hit well over 100 degrees Fahrenheit in London and a good portion of the Midlands. The heatwave, which is expected to continue until Tuesday, has prompted the British Met Office to issue their first ever Level 4 red warning for heat.

The vast majority of Brits do not have access to air-conditioning at home, which, coupled with houses designed to keep heat in in colder temperatures, results in the population feeling the impact more than in other parts of the world.

In response, Showcase, a chain of British cinemas, has offered redheads free tickets on Monday and Tuesday to see some of the most recent films, and cool off in their air-conditioned theaters.

“Since redheads are often more vulnerable than most to the sun’s rays, we’re giving them shelter from the sun inside our fully air conditioned cinema screens to catch the latest blockbusters for no cost at all,” Showcase said in a statement.

You're gonna want to let your redheaded friends know about this 😎 👉 https://t.co/d1pGiCFhnA pic.twitter.com/3nAMMj0LHd

— Showcase Cinemas UK (@ShowcaseCinemas) July 15, 2022

Films on offer include Thor: Love and Thunder, the new biopic Elvis, or Minions: The Rise of Gru. Showcase told the Washington Post that they were looking forward to seeing “how many redheads take us up on the opportunity.”

While some users on social media joked that they would put on redheaded beards and wigs in order to get access to the free tickets, others suggested that allowing only redheads to take advantage of the deal could be “indirect racial discrimination,” as the vast majority of those with ginger hair are white.

“So will you be doing free cinema entry for those with darker skin in the colder months then?” asked one Twitter user. “Or is that not allowed. Unbelievable.”

If you see a guy who looks like this taking advantage of this offer at Showcase Avonmeads on Monday, make sure you tell the staff it’s my natural hair colour 😉 https://t.co/fiRYFj9239 pic.twitter.com/IxxdF7bjDc

— Showcase Avonmemes (@showcasememes) July 15, 2022

Is this indirect racial discrimination given the much lower probability of non white people being redheads?

— Graham (@young_geezee) July 15, 2022

So will you be doing free cinema entry for those with darker skin in the colder months then? Or is that not allowed? Unbelievable 😂

— Sophie Conlon (@SophieConlon_) July 15, 2022