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Join on Telegram Rabat – Kuwaiti authorities have announced a ban on the screening of “Barbie,” citing concerns over the movie’s content “promulgating ideas and beliefs that are alien to the Kuwaiti society and public order.”
The decision comes just before the film’s scheduled release in cinemas across Gulf countries, with other neighboring countries having edited the film down before deeming it appropriate for screening.
The Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) reported that the decision was made by the Motion Picture Censorship Committee, headed by Lafi al-Subaie, who is also the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Information for Press, Publications, and Publications Affairs. The committee has banned not only “Barbie” but also the Australian film “Talk to Me.”
Al-Subaie cited the committee’s commitment to upholding public morals and preventing content that could “run counter to public ethics.”
He stated, “We are dedicated to preventing anything that offends public morals, encourages unacceptable behavior, or promotes ideas contrary to our customs and traditions.”
The committee’s decision follows a recent trend in the Gulf region where films containing LGBTQ+ themes or scenes have faced bans. Gulf countries such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait have previously prohibited movies featuring such content.
Lebanese Culture Minister Mohammed al-Murtada had also requested the banning of “Barbie,” citing concerns about “the promotion of homosexuality” in the film.
The film does not contain any explicitly LGBTQ+ content or characters, but does have a transgender cast member in Hari Nef.
The film, starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, has garnered significant global attention and box office success, grossing over a billion dollars worldwide.
Read also: Pride Month and Morocco’s Ongoing Fight for LGBTQ+ Rights
Interestingly, while Kuwait has decided to ban the film, neighboring Gulf countries such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain have opted to release it in their cinemas, after edits by their censorship boards.
The decision also comes shortly after the controversy surrounding the latest Spider-Man film, which was banned across Gulf states due to a scene featuring a banner supporting transgender people in the background of a shot.
