Pixar's LIGHTYEAR Banned In Saudi Arabia, UAE And Other West Asia Territories Over Same-Sex Kiss

Pixar's LIGHTYEAR Banned In Saudi Arabia, UAE And Other West Asia Territories Over Same-Sex Kiss

Disney Pixar's upcoming CG-animated film Lightyear has been banned in several Middle Easter countries, including Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, over a same-sex kissing scene.

By MattIsForReal - Jun 13, 2022 04:06 PM EST
Filed Under: Pixar
Source: Variety

Pixar's Lightyear will not be showing in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kuwait, and Malaysia, among other West Asia territories due to the inclusion of a same-sex kiss among two female characters in the film.

According to Variety, the scene, which involves the new space ranger Alisa and her partner kissing each other on the lips, had originally been cut from the film by Disney. However, Pixar had restored the scene following blowback from studio animators who in a previously released open letter claimed Disney had been demanding cuts censoring "overtly gay affection." 

Although the open letter was in response to Disney CEO Bob Chapek's handling of Florida's controversial "Parental Rights in Education" bill, commonly referred to as the "Don't Say Gay Bill," Disney has routinely made edits to its films in order to comply with censorship rules in other countries. In this case, it appears Disney was unwilling or unable to make the edits requested by local censors. And as a result, Lightyear will not play in these regions.

It's reported that Disney had never submitted Lightyear to cesors in Saudi, knowing it would no pass. However, the film had been initially approved for release in the UAE. However, that license was revoked following calls on social media that accused Disney and Lightyear of insulting Muslims and Islam.

This isn't the first DIsney film to be banned in the region. Both Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and Eternals were both banned in several Middle Eastern countries for similar reasons. Lightyear is scheduled to hit theaters in North America on June 17, 2022.

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kirbyfan
kirbyfan - 6/14/2022, 2:57 AM
Don't know why any company would make such a BONEHEADED DECISION! Why take the chance of alienating any fans or customers, just doesn't make business sense!
MattIsForReal
MattIsForReal - 6/14/2022, 10:37 AM
@kirbyfan - Disney is in a particularly interesting situation as they stand to lose a ton of creative talent if they don't fairly represent LGBTQ+ communities in their films.
kirbyfan
kirbyfan - 6/14/2022, 7:59 PM
@MattIsForReal - There's plenty of creative talent out there, let THE WOKE GO! Again why alienate any fans or customers for WOKE INSANITY doesn't make any kind of business sense!
BroskiTroski
BroskiTroski - 6/15/2022, 10:08 PM
@kirbyfan - I'm so glad you're concerned losing homophobic and racist fans of a god damn children's movie. Your standards for "woke insanity" is literally just gay people existing, I cannot even begin to imagine how easily triggered you'd have to be to be upset at such a trivial thing.

If we were making films around the time slavery was still legal, I'm sure you would be just as upset at "woke propaganda" for pushing anti-slavery messaging. Lol
kirbyfan
kirbyfan - 6/19/2022, 5:14 PM
@BroskiTroski - How DELUSIONAL,EVIL,and ANTI-FAMILY do you have to be to even begin to think such behavior is alright for LITTLE CHILDREN to see?!
Your response says it all, and just shows how DEGRADED this world has become!
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