Saudi Arabia, U.A.E. and More Ban Pixar Movie ‘Lightyear’ Over Same-Sex Kiss

Pixar’s Toy Story spinoff Lightyear has been blocked from showing in more than a dozen Asian and Middle Eastern countries over a kiss shared between two same-sex characters.

Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Indonesia, Kuwait, Malaysia, Lebanon and the UAE won’t be airing Disney’s upcoming film Lightyear over a scene that shows Buzz Lightyear’s space ranger partner kissing a character of the same sex.

The scene was reportedly initially removed from the film but then re-added after animators claimed Disney CEO Bob Chapek was trying to block “overtly gay affection.”

The film, which will delve into Buzz Lightyear’s backstory, was approved for release in the United Arab Emirates. However, it was immediately banned after the film faced backlash from social media users over the movie allegedly being offensive to Islam and Muslims. As for Saudi Arabia, Lightyear was never submitted to censors in Saudi Arabia due to Pixar knowing the country wouldn’t approve it.