Beauty and the Beast pulled in Malaysia after 'gay moment' is cut
Disney postpones release of film after state censorship board removes scene between LeFou and Gaston

A free daily digest of the biggest news stories of the day - and the best features from our website
Thank you for signing up to TheWeek. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
Disney has postponed the release of Beauty and the Beast in Malaysia after being asked to remove a "gay moment".
Studio bosses pulled the film three days before it was due to hit cinemas in the country and said a review was taking place.
The live-action remake of the popular cartoon features a scene in which the "sexuality of sidekick character LeFou, played by actor Josh Gad, is made clear," says Variety.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
LeFou is torn between feelings of lust and admiration for main antagonist Gaston, reports the BBC.
Homosexuality is illegal in Malaysia and film scenes depicting gay characters or discourse are only permitted if they are portrayed either negatively or as repentant, reports the Independent.
Abdul Halim Abdul Hamid, chairman of the Malaysian film censorship board, said Beauty and the Beast had been approved apart from one scene.
He said: "We have approved it but there is a minor cut involving a gay moment. It is only one short scene but it is inappropriate because many children will be watching this movie."
There had been no appeal from Disney about the decision, he added, reports The Guardian.
Film fans in the country have been angered by the cut.
Jasrena Jasmih, an executive who works in Kuala Lumpur, told Reuters: "[The censors] are too sensitive... They should be open-minded because it's just a movie, just a story. Nothing else matters."
Tourism minister Seri Nazri Aziz also said the censorship board's review was "ridiculous", adding: "You don't ban a film because of a gay character. There are also gays in the world. I don't think it is going to influence anyone. We need to think. We must allow people to decide for themselves.”
Malaysia is not the only country where the scene has caused concern. Last week, an MP in Russia said the film would spread gay "propaganda" among young people and called for it to be banned. It was eventually allowed to be released with an "adults only" rating.
Beauty and the Beast opens in the UK on Friday.
Continue reading for free
We hope you're enjoying The Week's refreshingly open-minded journalism.
Subscribed to The Week? Register your account with the same email as your subscription.
Sign up to our 10 Things You Need to Know Today newsletter
A free daily digest of the biggest news stories of the day - and the best features from our website
-
Humanitarian purposes
Cartoons
By The Week Staff Published
-
Magazine printables - September 29, 2023
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - September 29, 2023
By The Week Staff Published
-
Rupert Murdoch steps down: a legacy of power and scandal
Talking Point Lachlan Murdoch succeeds his father as head of media empire
By Sorcha Bradley Published
-
Two lost jet-skiers shot dead by coastguard
Speed Read Tensions between Algeria and Morocco heightened after death of holidaymakers who ‘strayed across border’
By Chas Newkey-Burden Published
-
Why Disney World is so empty this summer
The Explainer The park recently saw its slowest July Fourth weekend in nearly a decade
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Characters in the public domain, explained
Speed Read Winnie the Pooh just starred in a slasher film. Is Mickey Mouse next?
By Theara Coleman Published
-
Disney+ and Hulu to remove content in cost-cutting measure
Speed Read
By Brendan Morrow Published
-
Hollywood writers go on strike for first time in 15 years
Speed Read Writers Guild of America warns that ‘survival of writing as a profession is at stake’
By Arion McNicoll Published
-
Every Disney live-action remake in the works
Speed Read Disney is set to release its first remakes of 21st-century animated movies
By Brendan Morrow Last updated
-
Disney quietly tied the hands of new DeSantis-picked Disney World district board for decades, board complains
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Ike Perlmutter, billionaire who sold Marvel to Disney, laid off by Disney
Speed Read
By Brendan Morrow Published