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“Lightyears” actor Chris Evans, who plays the titular character in Walt Disney’s new Pixar film, has responded to critics who say the kissing scene between the two female characters in the film pushes a pro-gay agenda.
“The real truth is that those people are idiots,” Evans said in an interview with Reuters TV. “There will always be people who are afraid and don’t know, and try to hold on to what was before. But those people die like dinosaurs. I think our goal is to ignore them and move forward and embrace the grown-up humans that made us grow.”
In the film, Evans voices the character Buzz Lightyear, whose story inspired the action figure of the same name in the Toy Story franchise.
Light Years, Film Festival.
(Getty Images)
Evans added, “Every time we wake up, social progress, the American story, the human story is one of constant social awakening and growth, and that’s what makes us better.”
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The comments come as some film critics believe the inclusion of an LGBTQ representative kissing a gay married couple in a film aimed at children was intentional.
The on-screen kiss takes place between the heroine Hawthorne, voiced by Uzo Aduba, and another female character.
Disney, Pixar’s ‘Lightyear’ revive same-sex kissing amid queer character controversy: report
It was reportedly removed from the film earlier this year amid controversy over Disney’s silence on Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” Act, which banned discussions of LGBTQ identities in K-12 classrooms The removal, Variety reported in March, citing “a source close to production.” However, the scene was eventually reinstated into the film.
Chris Evans attends the ‘Otherworldly’ premiere of Disney and Pixar’s ‘Lightyear’ on June 8, 2022 at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, CA.
(Valerie Macon/AFP via Getty Images)
“Lightyear” opens in select theaters on Thursday and globally on Friday.
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It won’t be released in the United Arab Emirates or Malaysia because of the gay kiss on screen.
In the film, Chris Evans voices Buzz Lightyear.
(Valerie Macon/AFP via Getty Images)
The media regulation office of the UAE Ministry of Youth and Culture said in a tweet that the film “has not obtained a license for public screening in all cinemas in the UAE due to violation of the country’s media content standards”.
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“The office confirms that all films shown in theaters nationwide are being tracked and evaluated prior to their release date to the public to ensure the safety of dissemination of content according to appropriate age classifications,” the tweet added.