The new Disney Pixar film Lightyear will not be shown in the United Arab Emirates after the country’s media regulator said it was “not licensed” because of “its violation of the country’s media content standards.”
The film, which is a spin-off from the Toy Story franchise, contains a kiss between two characters of the same sex. The executive director of the UAE media regulatory office, Rashid Khalfan Al Nuaimi, has since said that this violation is in reference to the fact that the film stars homosexual characters.
Credit: UAE media regulator office
The UAE’s media regulatory office tweeted: “The Media Regulatory Office announced that the animated film 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.”
Taika Waititi, who has directed Thor: Ragnarok previously and starred in the film, said to the media that the inclusion of a LGBT relationship in the film “is so awesome”.
The film was due for release on June 16th in the UAE and stars James Brolin as the voice of Zurg, and Chris Evans as the voice of the central protagonist Buzz Lightyear.
The film will be available in UK cinemas on June 17.
Featured Image Credit: Ralf Steinberger/Flickr
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