The Office of Media Regulation of the United Arab Emirates announced on June 13 that the film, set to be released on June 16, was not licensed for public screening due to its “violation of the country’s media content standards.”
Lightyear now becomes the latest film in a growing list of major productions of Disney that have faced problems in the Gulf countries due to scenes involving LGBTQ references or themes, which often fall against censors for theatrical releases because homosexuality is officially illegal throughout the region.
In April, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness did not receive a theatrical license, allegedly due to the introduction of the character América Chávez (played by Xochitl Gomez) who, according to his portrayal in the comics, is gay. This followed in the footsteps of Eternals of Chloe Zhao, which was banned from much of the Gulf in November following the inclusion of a same-gender couple in the film and the MCU’s first gay superhero. At the time an edited version was screened in the United Arab Emirates.
In January, it was also prevented West Side Story hit theaters in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman and Kuwait. This time, the decision was due to the character Anybodys, written as transgender in the new adaptation and played by non-binary actress Iris Menas.
Source: Ambito
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