14 Countries Ban Pixar’s ‘Lightyear’ Over Gay Kiss Scene; Chris Evans Calls It ‘Frustrating’ – Indiatimes.com
‘Lightyear,’ an upcoming animated Hollywood movie, has been banned in several Middle Eastern countries, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
According to several reports, Walt Disney Co. has been unable to gain permission to screen its Pixar film Lightyear in 14 Middle Eastern and Asian countries.
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The Hollywood Reporter corroborated the information, claiming sources who believe the ban on the movie has been imposed owing to a same-sex kiss scene.
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The scene, which includes the female character Hawthorne (voiced by Uzo Aduba) and her lover, was initially deleted from the film but was restored after a public uproar over a statement by Pixar employees.
this is your reminder that there is a QUEER KISS !!! with WOMEN !!! in disney pixar’s LIGHTYEAR !!! which comes out FRIDAY !!! flood the box office for PRIDE !!! 🌈 pic.twitter.com/v8iInMi3Rf
— lynn (@itsgaycinema) June 14, 2022
All the homophobes whining about a kiss in the #Lightyear movie like “Kids shouldn’t see this!” 🙄 #dinsey #LightyearMovie #PrideMonth pic.twitter.com/jb8zWrmhad
— Emerald (@skyrimsbiatch) June 14, 2022
The UAE has banned Pixar’s “Lightyear” from showing in movie theaters due to a kiss between two female characters. pic.twitter.com/0q8QVzYWHE
— Alex Farnworth (@AlexFarnworth) June 13, 2022
14 countries banned Lightyear for including lesbian kiss in the movie. Disney executives must be crying inside cause China is one of those countries pic.twitter.com/9KclhKBvNd
— Sittibashrma Love (@sittibashrma) June 14, 2022
#Lightyear banned in 14 countries due to same-sex kiss pic.twitter.com/cgGJLSOMjk
— தமிழ் (@Tamizh5665) June 14, 2022
The employees alleged that Disney was censoring “overtly gay affection.” They also claimed that Disney CEO Bob Chapek’s handling of Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill was unethical.
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The UAE’s Media Regulatory Office reported on June 13 that the movie ‘Lightyear,’ which is set to be released on June 16, has been denied a public screening license due to a “violation of the country’s media content guidelines.“
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According to The Hollywood Reporter, ‘Lightyear’ is the latest in a growing list of major Disney movies, including ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ and ‘Eternals,’ that have faced challenges in Gulf countries.
The problems have emerged mainly as a consequence of scenes involving LGBTQ references or issues, which frequently prompt censorship for theatrical releases due to homosexuality being prohibited in the region.
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In January, ‘West Side Story’ was also stopped from reaching cinemas in Saudi Arabia, the U.A.E., Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, and Kuwait.
Chris Evans (@ChrisEvans), voice of #Lightyear, made a special appearance yesterday at Disney California Adventure Park! Check out photos from yesterday and see #Lightyear in theaters June 17! @Disneyland pic.twitter.com/ye8RvKB7gk
— Pixar (@Pixar) June 12, 2022
At the London premiere for the film on Monday, Chris Evans, who has lent his voice to the movie, reportedly said these objections to the same-sex kiss were “frustrating.”
Chris Evans with Buzz Lightyear today at the London premiere💙 pic.twitter.com/4IFhvNelCK
— Chris Evans Celebrations💙 (@chrisevansparty) June 14, 2022
“It’s great that we are a part of something that’s making steps forward in the social inclusion capacity, but it’s frustrating that there are still places that aren’t where they should be,” the actor was quoted as saying.
(With inputs from PTI)
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