Movie Theater Kicks Out Boy For Bringing Special Candy

In South Jersey, a movie theater kicked out a boy for bringing the only candy he could eat for his diabetic condition. Action 6 News reports that the incident occurred at Delsea Drive-In when the Weidners from West Deptford took their 16-year-old son, Ben, and a group of his friends out to see a film. The venue doesn’t allow outside food or drinks and made no exceptions for a diabetic teenager.

Ben has Type 1 diabetes and can only consume certain products of foods and drinks. He always carries a backpack containing insulin, an EpiPen, a juice box, and candy in the event that his blood sugar drops.

Ben’s admission at the movie theater was denied and they kicked him out.

Phil Weidner, Ben’s father, says:

“He needs to have items with him to handle low blood sugar. He’s got celiac, he’s got numerous food allergies. We are bringing these items in not because they are extra items to eat, but because they are for his own safety.”

The owner of Delsea Drive-In is Pediatrician Dr. John DeLeonardis. He told Mr. Weidner:

“Sorry your kid has an affliction but what can I tell you?”

Deleonardis tells the news source that the concession stand is how the theater makes its money and there are many diabetic and celiac-friendly foods are available for sale.

“No food. No drink. Bottom line,” DeLeonardis says.

DeLeonardis feels that if he bends the rules once, then everyone will claim to have diabetes and bring their own candy.

The movie theater owner explains:

“They’ll abuse it. My time shouldn’t be occupied at the box office trying to explain to people, ‘We have a website. It tells you about this. If you don’t want to go to that, don’t come.'”

Ben’s father disagrees with this reasoning for kids or parents being kicked out of movie theaters over candy.

Phil Weidner counters DeLeonardis’ argument:

“It’s just ignorant and unacceptable. Just because he feels people are going to take advantage of him by bringing food in.”

Ben was eager to have a fun night out with friends instead of dealing with probing medical instruments and obsessing about his diabetic condition. He tells News 10:

“I feel humiliated, really. Because I’ve been trying to get past this, all this stuff with my friends. Pretty much being with them, be as normal as possible. It’s just really humiliating.”

Dr. DeLeonardis has no plans to modify his no-exceptions rules around bringing outside candy, food, and drinks inside the drive-in movie theater.

Delsea Drive-In has menu choices on their website that include low-carb selections from Adkins.

Was the movie theater unreasonably strict when they kicked out the teenage boy for his diabetic candy?

[Photo Credit: Facebook via Daily Mail]