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Kuwait bans 'Barbie' film over 'public ethics' concerns

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Agence France-Presse

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Margot Robbie in " src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/life/08/10/20230810-barbie.jpg"/><figcaption>Margot Robbie in &#x27;Barbie.&#x27; Handout</figcaption></figure></div> KUWAIT CITY -- Kuwait has barred hit film &quot;Barbie&quot; from cinemas over concerns about &quot;public ethics,&quot; officials have said, also confirming a separate ban on a horror movie featuring a transgender actor.&quot;Barbie&quot; and &quot;Talk to Me&quot; both &quot;promulgate ideas and beliefs that are alien to the Kuwaiti society and public order,&quot; Lafy Al-Subei&#x27;e, head of Kuwait&#x27;s cinema censorship committee, told the official KUNA news agency.While deciding on any foreign movie, the committee usually orders &quot;censoring of the scenes that run counter to public ethics,&quot; Subei&#x27;e was quoted as saying late on Wednesday.&quot;But (if) a film carries alien concepts, message or unacceptable behaviour, the committee decides to bar the stuff in question as a whole,&quot; he said.Gulf Arab states including Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia -- all of which outlaw homosexuality -- routinely censor films that contain LGBTQ references.Most recently, they banned the latest Spider-Man animation in June, reportedly over a scene that includes a transgender pride flag.However, &quot;Barbie,&quot; which has taken more than $1 billion worldwide, is being shown in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain.In Lebanon, Culture Minister Mohammad Mortada said on Wednesday he had asked authorities to ban &quot;Barbie&quot; for purportedly &quot;promoting homosexuality,&quot; though the film does not contain any overt references to same-sex relationships or queer themes.&quot;Talk to Me,&quot; which is shown in Emirati and Saudi theatres, features Australian transgender actor Zoe Terakes but no explicit LGBTQ references.&quot;Our film doesn&#x27;t have queer themes,&quot; Terakes said in a statement posted on social media on Sunday, after the ban was first reported.&quot;I am a trans actor who happened to get the role. I&#x27;m not a theme. I&#x27;m a person,&quot; added Terakes who identifies as non-binary.© Agence France-Presse

Kuwait has barred hit film 'Barbie' from cinemas over concerns about 'public ethics,' officials have said, also confirming a separate ban on a horror movie featuring a transgender actor.