Last week, a Facebook post from former Oklahoma State Rep Mike Shelton went viral in the Oklahoma City social mediasphere. The issue? Tinseltown, a movie theater in the district Shelton represented for 12 years, called the police on him when another patron claimed Shelton was in their seat.
The catch? They were apparently Shelton's seats.
According to excerpts from Shelton’s lengthy Facebook post, which has been shared nearly 3,000 times, he was asked to leave Tinseltown and not come back after he refused to give up the seat he paid for:
Yesterday afternoon, I purchased two tickets online for the 4:35 p.m. showing of "By Any Means." My assigned seats were F14 and F15 in Auditorium 20. I received my QR code electronically. I arrived around 4:30, scanned my ticket, went to my assigned seats, and my preordered popcorn was waiting for me.
At approximately 4:40, during the trailers, a gentleman approached me and said I was sitting in his seat.
I pulled out my phone and checked and F14 and F15. I was exactly where my ticket said I was supposed to be.
He told me he had sold those same seats.
When the gentleman returned with [Tinseltown employee] Jacob, Jacob asked to see my ticket.
I immediately pulled out my cell phone and showed him my electronic ticket showing F14 and F15.
After looking at the ticket on my phone, Jacob then asked whether I had a paper ticket.
I told him no. I purchased my tickets online, received the QR code electronically, and used that QR code on my phone to enter the theater—as I have done countless times over the years.
Still, Jacob repeatedly told me I needed to come downstairs.
My answer was no.
When I wouldn't leave my purchased seat to fix their problem, I was told security would be called.
I said call security because I had done nothing wrong.
Then Shrell, who identified herself as Tinseltown's General Manager, became involved along with Oklahoma City Police Officer on Duty.
Well, that escalated quickly.