CELEBRITY

Stars Are Renting out Theaters to Share the Power of Love, Simon

(20th Century Fox)

Love, Simon is stealing more hearts with the help of some stars.

One of the most highly anticipated films, Love, Simon, hit theaters this past month, and it touched the hearts of many. The film following the tale of a young man’s coming out story remains one of the top-grossing films right now.

With a 17-year-old Simon Spier, whose family and friends know nothing about his sexuality, and an anonymous classmate who shares his secret, a lively love story unfolds before your eyes.

Given its step towards representation, many stars have rented out theaters in their hometowns in order to bring this heartfelt story about being true to self. For instance, Tyler Oakley bought out a theater in Michigan, Kristen Bell followed suit in Minnesota, while the film’s director Greg Berlanti and his husband partnered with LGBTQ+ organizations to host screenings in Kentucky and Mississippi.

While it appears only Hollywood joined in on the fun, that just isn’t true. Sacha Kljestan (of Orlando City Soccer Club) and his wife Jamie Lee Darley have bought out a theater at Regal Winter Park Village to screen Love, Simon after partnering with local LGBTQ+ group The Zebra Coalition, who will receive half of the tickets for their youth members.


“I was inspired by a few other people who did it,” said Kljestan. “I saw Neil Patrick Harris do it and Kristen Bell and obviously Robbie Rodgers is a very good friend of mine and his husband directed the movie. On opening weekend my wife and I went to see it and we really loved the movie and the message it presented.”

Wanting as many people to see it as possible, these stars are making it clear that this movie is worth watching.