At 11 AM, the company tweeted an image that said, "Catch a winning play at the theater," with an audience member watching football from their phone. The post was deleted some time before 5 PM, but a screenshot of the tweet is below.
AT&T responded to the Playbill report.
@playbill We love and listen to the thespian community. The ad wasn’t to be taken literally and we meant no disrespect.
— AT&T (@ATT)
September 14, 2015
However, the theatre community will not stand for the ad promoting phone use inside the theatre.
Don't let football get between you and your life. ��
@ATT
#GGLAM
pic.twitter.com/dZ97xF6QmX
— A Gentlemans Guide (@GentlemansGuide)
September 14, 2015
so glad
@JuliaMurney sent this to me. our industry should let
@ATT &
@DIRECTV know what we think of their marketing!
https://t.co/4h70BeHbFY
— Kate Shindle (@AEAPresident)
September 14, 2015
Hey
@ATT, let's NOT try and disrupt theater. K? Thanks.
@PlaybillMichael: yes for this!
#WinningTheaterAtTheater
http://t.co/UxsBBUA1qE
— Broadway Buzz (@broadway_buzz)
September 14, 2015
.
@ATT
#NotMyService
pic.twitter.com/OFse3BHA3K
— Blessedterns (@Blessedterns)
September 14, 2015
If you love theatre, or are decent human being, tweet to
@ATT about how dangerous their marketing is with
#NotMyService.
— AnnoyingActorFriend (@Actor_Friend)
September 14, 2015
Suck it
@ATT
@ATTCares
https://t.co/PhRktBpRxn
—
Betsy Wolfe (@BetsyWolfe)
September 14, 2015
.
@ATT it's do you hear the people SING, not ring.
#NotMyService
— Blessedterns (@Blessedterns)
September 14, 2015
Oh,
@AEAPresident...thought you might like to see this.
#notcool
https://t.co/6aW9xl1Frr
—
Julia Murney (@JuliaMurney)
September 14, 2015
Hey,
@att-you forgot to add in the fine print how utterly obnoxious this behavior is.
#shameonyou
#hereicometmobile
https://t.co/6aW9xl1Frr
— Julia Murney (@JuliaMurney)
September 14, 2015
You cannot be serious
@ATT
https://t.co/nMdYL8I3jX
—
Max von Essen (@MaxizPad)
September 14, 2015
Boycott
@ATT! This ignorant ad encourages rude, disruptive, against-the-rules behavior at the theatre.
https://t.co/bxSNwjTnpM
— Jennifer Tepper (@jenashtep)
September 14, 2015
Or stay home because this behavior is against the rules at the theater and totally rude to everyone in the building.
https://t.co/dRn29RS1Ha
—
Andy Mientus (@andymientus)
September 14, 2015
OR DON'T
https://t.co/tvBlGzndAJ
— The A.R.T. (@americanrep)
September 14, 2015
Are you out of your mind!?!?!
https://t.co/TNpmqcmt4R
—
Kyle Scatliffe (@KyleScatliffe)
September 14, 2015
.
@ATT this is rude and encouraging really heinous behavior at the theater. Thank you for contributing to the collapse of culture in America
—
Sean Grandillo (@seangrandillo)
September 14, 2015
What an inconsiderate ad. Shame on you,
@ATT
@ATTCares
@attcenter
pic.twitter.com/GQuIn2OuIC
—
Ruthie Ann Miles (@RuthieAnnMiles)
September 14, 2015
