The Buzz Lightyear reboot ‘Lightyear’ has been banned from screening in cinemas across the United Arab Emirates.
Fans React As Disney’s ‘Lightyear’ Is Banned From The UAE For Having A Same-Sex Kiss-‘Thank You So Much For Saving Our Children’
According to reports, the film violated the country’s Media Regulatory Office by virtue of the fact that it contains a same-sex-kissing scene.
This centres around the character of Alisha, a space ranger that ends up kissing her partner on the lips. And given that the UAE has outlawed same-sex-sexual conduct in the country, this move was hardly a surprise.
The following comments confirmed as much: “Lightyear, which is scheduled for release on 16th June, is not licensed for public screening in all cinemas in the UAE, due to its violation of the country’s media content standards.”
This is not the first time that a film has fallen foul of regulations imposed by Middle Eastern countries. In 2019, another Pixar film by the name of ‘Onward’ was also reportedly banned by Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
This was on the basis that the film had made reference to a lesbian parent. The character in question, Specter, who happened to be a female police officer, had stated the following line: “It’s not easy being a parent… my girlfriend’s daughter got me pulling my hair out, OK?”
It is not surprising, then, that this move generated a lot of talking points on social media as there was a varied response.
While people recognised that this move was going to divide people across different fault lines, it was ultimately up to the country to decide what was in its best interests.
One person wrote: “While I don’t personally appreciate any decision of censorship, I do believe every country has the right to decide their own morals, and you were very respectable in this.”
While another person stated: “Thank you so much for saving our children.” Time will tell if other Middle Eastern countries follow suit. So there you have it folks. What did you think about this?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
