'Lightyear': UAE bans animated film for 'content violation'
June 13, 2022
The Disney-Pixar film about Toy Story character Buzz Lightyear reportedly contains a scene including a same-sex kiss. The UAE prohibited public screening, citing an unspecified content violation.
The film is centered around the Buzz Lightyear action figure character from the popular "Toy Story" franchise seriesImage: Disney/Pixar/AP Photo/picture alliance
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'Lightyear' and other films banned
The new Pixar movie "Lightyear" has just been banned in several Arab countries. A look at film censorship worldwide, beyond the Middle East.
Image: Disney/Pixar/AP
'Lightyear' banned over lesbian kiss
Pixar's latest animated blockbuster, "Lightyear," has been banned in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and other Muslim countries, as the film features a lesbian kissing scene. Beyond this latest case in the Middle East, many other countries have censored scenes or entire films in the past.
Image: Disney/Pixar/AP Photo/picture alliance
Disney's self-censorship attempt
Pixar's parent company, Disney, tried to remove the kiss between astronaut Alisha (right) and another female character in the film. But the scene was kept in the end, following Pixar employees' protests. The UAE had recently announced it would no longer censor international films, but "Lightyear" was still banned. The country criminalizes consensual same-sex sexual activity between adults.
Image: Disney/Pixar/AP Photo/picture alliance
'Fantastic Beasts 3' modified for China
China also censors homosexuality in films. The most recent prominent example came with the release of "Fantastic Beasts 3: The Secrets of Dumbledore," which reveals a past romantic relationship between Albus Dumbledore and villain Gellert Grindelwald (Mads Mikkelsen, left). To satisfy Chinese authorities, US studio Warner Bros. removed two lines of dialogue referring to their love story.
Image: Warner Bros. Entertainment/dpa/picture alliance
'Bohemian Rhapsody' without gay references
In China, the biopic about Queen singer Freddie Mercury (Rami Malek) lacked all scenes that even hint at the homosexuality of the rock icon — including parts that were essential to the storyline, such as Mercury's coming out or his AIDS diagnosis. Reactions were mixed; many were glad the film was released in China at all.
Image: Everett Collection/picture alliance
Not all stories can be modified
Films like the multi-Oscar-winning drama "Brokeback Mountain" (2005), a love story between two cowboys starring Jake Gyllenhaal (left) and Heath Ledger (right), weren't publicly screened in China at all. The 2019 Elton John biopic "Rocketman" was also completely banned in the country. The British singer has openly acknowledged his homosexuality for decades.
Image: Focus Features/Paramount Classics/imago
'Seven Years in Tibet': China bans Brad Pitt
China's oppressed minorities, such as the Tibetans, are also a red flag for censorship. "Seven Years in Tibet" (1997) tells the story of the friendship between the Austrian mountaineer Heinrich Harrer (Brad Pitt, right) and the Dalai Lama. The film was not only banned, but all other movies starring Brad Pitt are not allowed to be shown in China.
Image: Film Constantin/dpa/picture alliance
A different 'Rocketman' in Russia
Homosexual scenes are also removed from films in Russia, including from "Rocketman" (2019). Elton John (pictured) protested loudly against the cuts in his biopic and accused Moscow of censorship. Although sexual activity between people of the same sex is legal in the country, "homosexual propaganda" is illegal and hate crimes against LGBTQ people are widespread.
Image: Matrix/imago images
Bans in Germany: Peter Jackson's 'Braindead'
State film censorship does not only happen in authoritarian countries. In Germany, too, numerous films have landed on the index for inciting violence, racial hatred or glorifying National Socialism. Even the cult horror film "Braindead" by "Lord of the Rings" director Peter Jackson (pictured) is banned in Germany because of its depictions of gory violence.
Image: Apple Corps Ltd
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"Lightyear," the animated movie based on the franchise series "Toy Story," has been banned from cinemas in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the country's Media Regulatory Office announced Monday.
The Disney-Pixar film about "Toy Story" character Buzz Lightyear reportedly contains a scene including a same-sex kiss.
The film was banned for its "violation of the country's media content standards," the office said on Twitter, sharing a picture of the main character Buzz Lightyear covered by a "No" symbol.
LGBTQ content ban
The Emirati government body did not state the specific violation of its content standards, but an Arabic hashtag "'Lightyear' banned in the Emirates," in posts complaining that the film contains portrayals of LGBTQ relationships, was trending on Twitter.
The film, which is expected to be released later this week, reportedly includes a scene of two female characters kissing.
The scene was initially taken out of the film, but later restored after complaints by Disney and Pixar employees, according to US media.
Monday's announcement came just six months after the UAE said it would stop censoring films and instead use a 21+ age rating for content it classifies for mature audiences.
The UAE is seen as more liberal than other countries in the region that typically censor or edit out scenes it deems controversial in films.
Saudi Arabia, for instance, recently banned the screening of Disney's "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" due to its "LGBTQ references."
