A Malaysian influencer, whose Jan 3 TikTok post of herself in an empty cinema hall with a caption that said she had "bought all the seats" because she was "the introverted type" went viral, has revealed she simply lucked out.
In an interview with Malaysian media outlet mStar on Jan 5, Eriyca Baiduri, 34, clarified that she had made the caption in jest.
She explained that she and her husband were on their way to catch a movie — she did not state what the flick was — when they entered an empty cinema hall, which made them think they had wandered into the wrong hall.
"The moment we entered the hall, (we saw) it was empty with not a single person," she told mStar. "We were about to leave the hall but then realised that it was just me and my husband who were watching that screening."
Tickled by the incident, she posted the caption about buying all the seats.
"We didn't actually book the entire hall," said Eriyca said, "but it was the first time we had ever watched a movie in an empty cinema like that."
Her video on TikTok — in which the owner of a beauty brand is seen munching on popcorn and wearing spectacles — went viral. It has since garnered about 70,000 views and 330 comments.
Many users shared their preference for watching movies alone while others criticised Eriyca for flaunting her wealth.
User @mr.cafemilk, who claims to also enjoy movies in solitude, says his solution is to "always buy movie tickets at a fancy shopping mall at 12pm on Mondays".
"The hall is likely to be empty so I don't have to buy it out," he said.
User @katak.hijo said: "If I could afford it, I would do this too. I would not hear the sound of children making noise when they are unattended to by their parents or people chatting."
Eriyca told mStar that she did not expect her post to generate so much comment, but decided to just "let it be".
"Whatever the netizens want to say about me, that I try to flaunt my wealth, that I'm being difficult and suddenly chose to turn into an introvert, I forgive them all. It's all right," she said.
"But it's also quite entertaining to see them argue in the comments section, that's why I just let it be. They are actually quite funny."
The Straits Times has contacted Eriyca for comment.
Editor's note: An earlier version of the article stated that Eriyca had bought all the seats in the cinema hall. She has since clarified through Malaysian media that the hall had just happened to be empty.
ALSO READ: Too comfortable? Man seen propping his leg up on a seat in Suntec City's Golden Village cinema hall
This article was first published in The Straits Times. Permission required for reproduction.