Posted on 09/19/2026 8:42:38 AM PDT by BenLurkin
A man who was arrested for allegedly pepper-spraying a moviegoer at a SoCal theater because the moviegoer was on their phone is receiving strong support from the internet.
The incident unfolded at the AMC Burbank 16 at approximately 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 15.
The man, identified by the Burbank Police Department as 34-year-old Los Angeles resident Matthew Ware, is said to have pepper-sprayed a person who was using their cell phone “about 40 minutes into the movie,” according to a witness, who said he heard a “hissing sound” of an aerosol spray. It is believed that the film playing at the time was “The Uprising.”
Moments later, a person could be heard screaming that they were pepper-sprayed, and Ware was reportedly seen fleeing the theater right after.
The witness who spoke to KTLA said he called police, who found Ware in the theater lobby and arrested him. He was booked into the Burbank Jail for misdemeanor battery
...
Many social media accounts were quick to post about the incident...
“That person will not talk on the phone during a movie again.”
One other social media user called Ware “an icon walks among us in the San Fernando Valley,” while another suggested he get a free MoviePass for life.
“Free Pepper Spray Guy! People are pricks at the movies these days,” one Instagram user commented.
“Bet they won’t use their phones in a movie again.. good job, kid,” said another person.
A third individual summed up Ware’s alleged actions that, clearly, some consider extreme while others consider reasonable.
“[This is] a reminder to not use your cell phone during a movie,” they wrote.
(Excerpt) Read more at ktla.com ...
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Yah gotta do what you gotta do...
Why is the sprayee referred to as ‘they’?
Pepper spray inside a movie theater? no thanks.
Because it’s ktla......what else would we expect from a news outlet in the belly of the beast?
I know they’re just pimply faced teenagers, but isn’t that what ushers are for?
I get the guys anger, you go to a movie to watch the movie, not watch someone scrolling on their cell phone, but pepper spraying is over the top. That’s why when I go to the movies I turn my phone completely OFF, that way I dont have to worry about receiving a text, phone call, anything
People are growing tired of anti-social behavior.
Support no one.
Guess the guy didn’t see the ad about not using your phone in the theater.
Because the pimply faced teenager doesn't want to get stabbed by Jarquavious or Shaniqua for telling them to silence their phones.
(And theaters don't really have ushers anymore.)
One more reason I refuse to patronize movie theaters anymore.
Having consideration for other people and manners in general is dying concept nowadays.
Rare is the time my wife and I go to the grocery store or Walmart and NOT have someone do something rude.
“Guess the guy didn’t see the ad about not using your phone in the theater.”
Oh I’m sure he saw it....he just didn’t give a sht.
Rules are for other people you know. SMH
When their shrieks died down, it was blissfully quiet from then on.
Somebody’s gotta be the bad guy in too many of these instances. There aren’t enough good, burly men out there willing to step up.
reminds of the scene in “Californication” when Hank Moody [David Duchovny] beats the crap out of a dipshit doing the same thing in the same place ...
[reason 1,758 why we haven’t been to a movie theater in decades]
“Rare is the time my wife and I go to the grocery store or Walmart and NOT have someone do something rude.”
I try to go to Walmart in off hours. The earlier you go the lower the probability of running into someone who is rude. My suspicion regarding the rude people I have run across is that they’re drug/alcohol users or have some other negative social trait. People like that stay up late and sleep late.
Never go anywhere you aren’t thoroughly regarding as safe after dark. Doubly true after midnight.
You must be as old as I am.
Interesting thing about Walmart. Here in CA I live in a Republican plurality, law and order semi-rural county. Two Walmarts nearby. Both are clean. Not that you never see anyone colorful there, but not really more than stores in general.
My sister lives 70 miles away in a different majority rat semi-rural county. The county seat itself is big enough to support two Walmarts. And it is the wild Wild West in both of them. You know, the culture the democrats would like to bring to every county in the country.
It’s all a matter of what the local population and government officials are willing to put up with
"Jabber, jabber, jabber".
At least they aren't buried in the desert outside of Vegas.
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