A local feud over KN95 masks in western Massachusetts is heading toward movie screens.
The story began when Last Ditch Bar, a queer gathering spot in Greenfield, posted an update on Instagram announcing that patrons no longer needed face coverings on Saturday nights. The message specifically addressed “immunocompromised disabled divas,” hoping to offer a brief break from strict rules while maintaining safety mandates on other days.
Instead, the internet reacted immediately. Critics accused the venue of enabling a mass disabling event, sparking heavy online callouts and calls for boycotts.
Now, United Talent Agency is fielding inquiries from producers interested in adapting the saga into a scripted show or documentary series. UTA also represents The Boston Globe, which published a massive feature on the incident by Annalisa Quinn after the story first surfaced on the podcast Blocked and Reported.
The discourse around this story has really been interesting to see. Many folks have chimed in and have such strong feelings about it one way or another and scrolling through these rants on TikTok left me intrigued and curious to know more, so it doesn’t surprise me that an agency is fielding inquiries to adapt it into a show or series. It’s juicy and makes for good tv!
How a Single Instagram Post Blew Up
Last Ditch Bar owner Jackie Matellian was already managing heavy business debt while running one of the few remaining physical lesbian bars in the country. Queer spaces have faced sharp declines for decades, making surviving locations critical hubs where safety standards, politics, and social life constantly intersect.
When the venue made masks optional for just one night a week, regular patrons split into opposing camps. Some felt betrayed by the shift in health policies, while others argued that small business owners need flexibility to keep their doors open. It’s a real tough bind to be in, and if I were in the owner’s position, a small business struggling financially, I’d also get creative and think how I could appeal to a bigger audience.
As online commentary grew, the venue posted a second statement on Instagram to address community safety and clarify details about local performers.
“He did not call for a shutdown, nor did he call for the bar to be firebombed,” the venue stated, defending frequent collaborator Soe Noire against public attacks. “Further, he did not disparage the owner for being homeless.”
The statement criticized The Globe for what it called abysmal journalism, arguing that the reporting fueled targeted harassment and anti-Blackness hysteria against Noire. Meanwhile, Matellian continues working to keep the venue afloat amidst boycotts, financial pressure, and unexpected national scrutiny.
I really feel for the owner, this story has blown up and caused so much raucous and nothing is really being done to help them stay afloat. The emotional turmoil that comes with the scrutiny is also saddening, and I really hope they come out of this. If that means these agencies bring them into the fold on the story as they seek adaptation, and give them financial compensation or bring them into the creation/production of whatever comes, I’d say that’s a step in the right direction.
Time will tell what comes of this story in Hollywood, and I’ll be posted waiting eagerly for all the updates.
