Kuwait claims edited version of Beauty and the Beast will cut out gay moment

Kuwait has claimed a new cut of Beauty and the Beast not including a gay moment will show in cinemas after the film was banned.

Josh Gad, whose character Le Fou struggles with his sexuality throughout the film, said it was a shame the twist had been revealed, adding: “I hope that it’s a surprise to audiences to some extent.”

The film will include a character exploring his sexual orientation which will end with a “gay moment” says the film’s director, which has been reported as him dancing with another man.

Bill Condon suggested that the character LeFou, Gaston’s manservant, has confusing feelings about the major character.

Disney has not yet commented on the claim by Kuwait’s National Cinema Company, but those who had bought tickets to see the film on Monday were told their tickets were cancelled due to “unforeseen circumstances”.

The film had been showing since Thursday so some screenings went ahead.

Duaij Al-Khalifa Al-Sabah, who is on the board of the NCC, told the Associated Press that a new version of the film will be shown in Kuwait.

He confirmed that the “concerns” leading to the cancellation of the screenings centred around the “gay moment”.

Ahead of the release of the film, Bishop Rennis Ponniah of Singapore’s St. Andrew’s Cathedral last week sent an “alert” to warn his congregation about the “homosexual content”.

The film has been rated 16+ by Russia, and Malaysia has moved to ban the film.

Earlier this month an Alabama drive-in cinema said it had cancelled plans to screen the film over the gay character.

The company made the announcement on its Facebook page, informing followers that the new ownership had decided “with great sorrow” to not show the film.

“We all make choices and I am making mine,” continued the post on the page belonging to the drive-in, which is owned by Alabama native Lanita Price.

“For those that do not know, Beauty and the Beast is ‘premiering’ their first homosexual character. The producer also says at the end of the movie ‘there will be a surprise for same-sex couples’.”

Apparently, the drive-in’s owners had not previously noticed the clear sexual overtones between Gaston and Le Fou.

The message continues: “If we can not take our 11-year-old granddaughter and 8-year-old grandson to see a movie we have no business watching it.”

“If I can’t sit through a movie with God or Jesus sitting by me then we have no business showing it.

“I know there will be some that do not agree with this decision. That’s fine.”

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