after being informed that the film had been given an r rating by the motion picture association of america, moore appealed the decision, hoping to obtain a pg-13 rating instead. moore's lawyer, former governor of new york, mario cuomo, was not allowed to attend the hearing. the appeal was denied on june 22, 2004, and cuomo contended that it was because he had been banned from the hearing. some theaters chose to defy the mpaa and allow unchaperoned teenagers to attend screenings.