To be fair, the chains only stated they were delaying showing the movie in their theaters. Christmas Day is a big movie day for theaters, and if anything DID happen, the John Edwards contingent would bankrupt them.
Sony could have continued the release, and likely would have had a fair opening weekend, and once nothing happened, a very very good second week (whereupon it would flop out of theaters, because, well, it is a brain dead movie...)
Sony will still release it, much like the chains they only said “not on Christmas”.
Sony couldn’t have continued the release, they had no screens. They maybe could have scraped up 100 indies, but most indies are art houses and don’t show these kind of movies.
When the chains decide it’s “safe” it will get released.