DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) 鈥 Authorities across much of the Muslim world have barred Disney's latest animated film 鈥淟ightyear鈥 from being played at cinemas after the inclusion of a brief kiss between a lesbian couple, the company said Thursday as the movie premiered.
Thirteen nations and the Palestinian territory barred the Pixar film that has actor Chris Evans voicing the inspiration for the astronaut hero Buzz Lightyear from the 鈥淭oy Story鈥 movies, The Walt Disney Co. said.
This represents a major challenge at the box office for one of Disney鈥檚 biggest animated films of the year as the film industry comes out of the depths of the coronavirus pandemic. Analysts estimated it could gross over $100 million in its first weekend.
鈥淟ightyear鈥 includes a female character voiced by actress Uzo Aduba briefly kissing her female partner in one scene in the $200 million film. That proved too much for censors in many Muslim-majority nations, where laws often criminalize same-sex relationships.
Nations that refused to allow the film to be shown include Bahrain, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria and the United Arab Emirates, Disney said. The UAE, home to Abu Dhabi and Dubai,
Many Muslims consider gays and lesbians to be sinful. In some parts of the Arab world, members of the LGBTQ community have been arrested and sentenced to prison. Some countries even maintain the death penalty.
The film's stars had called the earlier decision of the UAE disappointing.
鈥淵eah, it鈥檚 frustrating," Evans told The Associated Press earlier this week at the premiere of 鈥淟ightyear鈥 in London. "It feels good to be a part of something that is making social progress, but it鈥檚 with this ribbon of bittersweet frustration that at the same time, there are still places that have not caught up.鈥
Studios have allowed censors to cut films in global distribution for content in the past, including in the Mideast market. Recently, Disney has faced protests from activists and its own staff over what
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in late March signed the bill,
The moment had been earlier cut from the film but was restored after Pixar employees protested Disney鈥檚 response to Florida鈥檚 bill.
___
Follow Jon Gambrell on Twitter at .