‘Beauty and the Beast’ cinema showings suspended in Kuwait

This image released by Disney shows Dan Stevens as The Beast, left, and Emma Watson as Belle in a live-action adaptation of the animated classic “Beauty and the Beast.” (Disney via AP)

DUBAI: The Kuwait National Cinema Company has suspended showings of Disney’s hit movie “Beauty and the Beast,” citing responsibilities toward young viewers.
The movie was shown on Thursday but according to reports, people who bought tickets for the shows on Monday were alerted that the film would not be shown.
“Dear customers: The movie Beauty and the Beast has been suspended pending its review. We regret any inconvenience. We will refund your bookings,” the company said on its Twitter account on Monday.
The move follows upheaval over the movie in Malaysia due to allusions that a character in the film may be homosexual.
Malaysia’s censor board initially barred the movie from screening in the Muslim-majority country if Disney did not remove the three-second gay scene.
Disney refused to make the cut and local distributors asked the censor board to review the decision.
However, the decision was overturned.
“We are pleased to announce that Disney’s ‘Beauty and the Beast’ has now been approved to be released in Malaysia with no cuts, with a PG13 rating,” the company said in a statement this week. PG13 rating means parental guidance is advisable for children under 13 years.
Starring Emma Watson as young Belle who falls in love with the Beast, the film features a gay character for the first time in Disney’s history.
The character, LeFou, the sidekick to the film’s primary villain, Gaston, sparked calls among some ultra-conservative groups around the world for a boycott of the film.
(With Reuters)