Disney’s new movie, Lightyear, a derivative of the Toy Story series, faces bans or restrictions in scenes featuring two female kisses in parts of Southeast Asia and the Middle East. Animated films will be released worldwide this week.
The United Arab Emirates has banned the public screening of “Lightyear,” and Malaysia has cut some scenes from the movie to Disney before at a local cinema, according to Muslim-dominated country officials. I’m asking you to show it.
In Indonesia, which has the largest Muslim population in the world, the chairman of the film censorship committee told the New York Times Wednesday that the kissing scene could violate a law banning films showing “deviant sexual behavior.” rice field.
“The Film Censorship Commission doesn’t want to get caught up in the debate over professional LGBT and anti-LGBT,” said Romy Fibri. “But the kissing scene is sensitive.”
Disney did not respond to repeated requests for comments.
The international backlash against “light-years” is a new public relations headache for Disney. Disney is not a cultural lightning rod in the United States due to its growing willingness to publicly defend LGBTQ people.
Disney “Lightyear” created by Pixar Animation Studios and directed by Angus MacLaneA story of decisive originThe character of Buzz Lightyear, a space ranger who starred in the 1995 movie “Toy Story” and several sequels. “
“Lightyear” focuses on the friendship between Buzz (voice of Chris Evans) and another space ranger, Alisha Hawthorne (Uzo Aduba). Alisha marries a woman, and in one scene she kisses her wife.
Disney CEO Bob Chapek received strong pressure from many employees earlier this year to oppose the anti-LGBTQ bill that had passed the Florida parliament, home of Disney World Resort. I did.
Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida signed the bill in late March, and Disney publicly condemned it. The Florida House later voted to revoke Disney World’s special tax designation. This is a privilege held by theme parks near Orlando for more than half a century.
The international backlash against “light-years” has far less public attention in the United States than Disney’s clash with DeSantis. But it reminds the company that the cultural conflict over children’s content doesn’t end at the US border.
In the United Arab Emirates, the Government Media Regulatory Authority Said on twitter This week, “Lightyear” did not license to show at domestic cinemas because it violated the national “Media Content Standards”. The agency did not elaborate or respond to the request for comment.
In Malaysia, “Light Year” can be shown on Netflix in its current form, but the Film Censorship Commission has asked Disney to change some scenes, including “romantic” scenes, before it’s shown in the movie. I requested. Ministry of Interior.
In Indonesia, film censorship committee Romy said officials there had flagged Disney on the kissing scene and waited for the company to send a finished movie with subtitles for censorship review. “We’re not saying we’re rejecting the movie,” he said.
Movies with gay kissing scenes may not pass censorship reviews in Indonesia due to 2019 legislation banning movies containing “ vulgar sexual activity” or “ deviation” or “ irrational” sexual content Romy added that it was highly sexual.
Openly gay, lesbian and transgender people are facing persecution throughout the Islamic world. In Malaysia, the law against them is rooted in the Inquisition and the British colonial ban on Muslims and non-Islams. In Indonesia, where 9 out of 10 out of 270 million people in the country are Muslims, some politicians have sought to associate LGBTQ people with immorality, illness and the destruction of Indonesian culture.
Italy Film International, which distributes Disney movies in the Middle East and promotes “Lightyear” on its website, did not respond to requests for comment.
As of Wednesday, it was unclear how the film would be shipped in the Middle East and other countries in Asia. Film censorship authorities in Saudi Arabia and China, the main markets for Hollywood studios, did not respond to requests for comment.
In Singapore, Infocomm Media Development Authority Said in a statement Viewers must be at least 16 years old to watch “Light Year” this week. The movie was “the first commercial children’s animation featuring an overt homosexual depiction,” and Disney declined the offer to release two versions of the movie, including one edited for younger viewers. I am saying.
“It’s a great animated film set in the context of the United States, but Singapore is a diverse society where we have multiple sensibilities and perspectives,” said Cheryl Ng, chair of the agency’s film counseling panel. Said in a statement.
Muktita Shardno When Riani MK Report that contributed. Li You Contributed to the research.
