'West Side Story' banned in parts of Mideast over transgender character.
’s adaptation of the classic musical, has been banned in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman and Kuwait. In some cases, like Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, the film wasn’t granted a release certificate. In other countries, such as Qatar and Oman, Disney refused to comply with cuts requested by censors.
The move isn’t entirely surprising because Middle Eastern countries have strict censorship mandates regarding sexuality, swearing, and other aspects that don’t comply with the nation’s cultural views. “West Side Story” isn’t profane, but it’s understood that censors weren’t on board with Anybodys, a character who is transgender and portrayed by nonbinary actor Iris Menas. Films with LGBTQ references have been regularly targeted by censors in the Middle East, as well as China.
“West Side Story” releases elsewhere in theaters on Friday. The new version comes 60 years after the original movie and featuresand Ansel Elgort as star-crossed lovers. Their new romance fuels the rivalry between warring street gangs, the Jets and the Sharks. The cast also includes Ariana DeBose as Anita, David Alvarez as Bernardo, Mike Faist as Riff, and Rita Moreno as Valentina.
“There are scenes in Spielberg’s version that will melt you, scenes that will make your pulse race, and scenes where you simply sit back and revel in the big-spirited grandeur of it all,” he wrote.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
‘West Side Story’ Reportedly Banned In Six Gulf Countries Because Of Transgender CharacterReports say Disney refused to cut scenes involving a transgender character.
Read more »
'West Side Story': Why Ariana DeBose Is the Perfect AnitaSteven Spielberg gushes about ArianaDeBose and reveals why she is the perfect Anita: 'I saw somebody who had tremendous personal charisma.' WestSideStory
Read more »
Spielberg brings life-long fandom to reimagined 'West Side Story'50 years after 'West Side Story,' written by Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim, won 10 Oscars, Steven Spielberg has reimagined the musical love story set among rival street gangs for a new generation but with the reverence of a true fan
Read more »
‘West Side Story’ Banned in Saudi Arabia, Other Gulf NationsJust a month after 'Eternals' suffered the same fate, Steven Spielberg's musical adaptation has fallen foul of regional censors, this time supposedly over the inclusion of a transgender character.
Read more »
Steven Spielberg’s ‘West Side Story’ Will Not Play In Saudi Arabia, UAE & Other Parts Of Middle EastDisney/20th Century Studios’ West Side Story is due to begin international box office rollout on Wednesday this week, but it will not be heading to movie theaters in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, …
Read more »