Disney yanks Beauty and the Beast out of Malaysia after censors cut gay scene
Malaysia approved a version of the movie for release there with its most pro-gay scene cut, but Disney then cancelled it altogether without explanation.
The Associated Press reported that Malaysia's main cinema chains said the movie has been "postponed indefinitely."
Beauty and the Beast has caused controversy since its director, Bill Condon, revealed the children's film will feature an "exclusively gay moment."
The character Le Fou has a confusing crush on Belle’s suitor, Gaston, according to Condon.
"Le Fou is somebody who on one day wants to be Gaston and on another day wants to kiss Gaston," said Condon. "He's confused about what he wants. It's somebody who's just realizing that he has these feelings. And [the actor] makes something really subtle and delicious out of it."
Because of the homosexual content, Russia has banned unaccompained children under 16 from seeing Beauty and the Beast.
More than 114,000 people have pledged to boycott the film.
The New York Times reported that Abdul Halim Abdul Hamid, chairman of Malaysia's censorship board, said, "It is in our guidelines that we don’t allow L.G.B.T. activity in movies in Malaysia. They [Disney] are the ones not allowing the movie to be shown. We approved it with a minor cut."
"If they want to screen it here, they have to comply," said Hamid.
Sodomy is illegal in Malaysia. According to the Pew Research Center, 86 percent of people in the Muslim-majority country are unsupportive of homosexual activity.
