Rabat – A Moroccan petition is now attempting to force a nationwide ban against the animated Disney film Lightyear, which is facing a backlash over a scene that features a same-sex kiss.
Initiated by a number of public figures, heads of associations, and professors, the petition calls for an immediate ban on the movie, describing it as promoting a “heinous affair” and calling on authorities to “stop this nonsense seeking to corrupt our children.”
It notably emphasizes that movies like Lightyear seek to distort children’s cultural and religious grounding and undermine their morals.
The petition, which has garnered over 400 signatories from people with different backgrounds, criticizes some Moroccan movie theaters for deciding to screen the film despite the ongoing backlash against it.
“After a number of Arab and Islamic countries refused to screen ‘Lightyear’ directed to children, due to the scenes promoting homosexuality, some Moroccan cinemas are preparing to screen the movie next Sunday in the major cities of Morocco, especially Rabat and Casablanca,” the petition fumed.
In Rabat, online schedules on Cine Atlas’s website indicate that the movie theater will begin screening Lightyear on June 22.
Denouncing the scheduled screening of what it described as a controversial movie, the petition called on all Moroccans who are “proud of their religion and attached to their morals and values to counter all plans aimed at destroying what Moroccan families instill in their children.”
Read also: Animated Film ‘Lightyear’ Sparks Controversy Over Same-Sex Kiss
Lightyear has faced a popular backlash in many countries, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Kuwait, the UAE, and China, all of which have banned the film for promoting homosexuality. Malaysia is also planning restrictions against the Disney movie.
Despite such a growing backlash, Disney has strongly spoken in support of Lightyear. Disney president Karey Burke said she is fervently in favor of including more LGBTQIA characters as the mother of two queer children.
In March, Burke said that half of the characters in Disney’s upcoming projects will represent the LGBTQIA+ community and other minorities.
According to the news website MEAWW, the Disney chief has notably been adamant that “viewers will be able to see that change coming into effect by the end of the year.”
For all the controversy surrounding Lightyear’s “problematic” scenes, the animated movie has so far been a huge box office hit. According to CNBC, Lightyear has had “the best performance of an animated feature since the pandemic began.” The Disney film “rocketed to a $51 million” opening in the US and “tallied $34.6 million in ticket sales” worldwide, the news outlet explained.
