Twitter Reverses Ban of Pro-Life Movie 'Unplanned'

The drama and controversy surrounding the new pro-life motion picture “Unplanned,” the Pure Flix docudrama that opened in theaters Friday, may even surpass the drama and controversy of the film itself.

On the film’s opening day, Twitter suspended the official “Unplanned” Twitter account without warning, presumably because it was believed to have breached Twitter’s content rules.

Leading social conservatives immediately reacted.

Conservative talker Dana Loesch tweeted: “If Twitter doesn’t discriminate against ideology, as they attested to during their hearing, then … what did @UnplannedMovie do to warrant such an action? Where is the consistency?”

Similarly, pro-life activist and Live Action founder Lila Rose tweeted to Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey: “@jack, why are they suspended? You’ve banned both my & LiveAction account from all promotions simply bc we’re pro-life. Have you banned this account because it challenges your pro-abortion bias?”

Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey was apparently inundated with complaints: The movie’s account was abruptly restored.

“Thank you everyone,” the film’s social media director tweeted, “for your support in letting @Jack & @Twitter know when our ‘Unplanned’ movie account was recently suspended without cause. We are back and excited for the great response we're getting in theaters this weekend.”

Still, questions linger over why Twitter’s censors seem so quick to pull the trigger when conservatives speak up.

“Trying to figure out why the @UnplannedMovie account has been suspended,” tweeted Ashley Bratcher, the actress who plays the real-life Abby Johnson, the young Planned Parenthood clinic director who was asked to observe an abortion and subsequently became a vocal pro-life activist. “We need answers.”

“Unplanned” seems to have experienced an uphill odyssey at every turn.

Although the film contains no sex, nudity, or graphic language, the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) slapped it with an R rating, thereby preventing those under the age of 17 from viewing it unless accompanied by a parent or adult guardian.

Hollywood insider and long-time Newsmax contributor James Hirsen blasted the rating as “wholly unfair and blatantly biased.”

Screeners claimed they gave the movie an R rating due to the graphic violence of the topic. Pro-lifers say that’s precisely their point, that abortion is an inherently violent act.

The movie’s defenders also were quick to point that in many jurisdictions, a 16-year-old would be allowed to obtain an abortion without parental consent, but barred from viewing “Unplanned” unless a parent tags along.

Then there were the difficulties the motion picture had in purchasing TV ads.

Although advertising is the lifeblood of the networks, virtually every major cable network except Fox News reportedly rejected advertising dollars from “Unplanned,” including HGTV, Lifetime, Hallmark Channel, and The Food Network.

Lifetime indicated that it rejected ads because of the “sensitive nature of the film.” The network previously had aired an interview with actress Scarlett Johansson promoting Planned Parenthood, which facilitates over 300,000 abortions a year, according to its annual report.

Against all odds, it seems “Unplanned” is shaping up as a Hollywood-style success story anyway. Despite the R rating, the Twitter ban, and limited advertising, the motion picture “overperformed this weekend,” according to Forbes.

“Unplanned” brought in $2.72 million on opening night, and is likely to earn $7.25 million for the weekend.

Hirsen hails ”Unplanned” as “a must-see movie.”

· James Hirsen: ‘Unplanned’ Is a Must-See Movie”