Barbie Controversy: Here's why Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie's film was BANNED in countries around the world
Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie painted the globe pink with the release of their film 'Barbie'. Sadly not everyone was allowed to ride the pink wave, reportedly because of its 'message' and 'themes' that were deemed 'unacceptable' in certain countries. Here's a look at the reasons why the film was banned in countries around the world.
Kuwait
Kuwait barred the hit film 'Barbie' from cinemas over concerns about "public ethics", officials said, also confirming a ban on a horror movie featuring a transgender actor. 'Barbie' and 'Talk to Me' both "promulgate ideas and beliefs that are alien to the Kuwaiti society and public order", Lafy Al-Subei'e, head of Kuwait's cinema censorship committee, told the official KUNA news agency.
While deciding on any foreign movie, the committee usually orders "censoring of the scenes that run counter to public ethics. But (if) a film carries alien concepts, message or unacceptable behaviour, the committee decides to bar the stuff in question as a whole," he said.
However, "Barbie", which has taken more than $1 billion worldwide, is being shown in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain.
Gulf Arab states including Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia - all of which outlaw homosexuality - routinely censor films that contain LGBTQ references.
Lebanon
In Lebanon, Culture Minister Mohammad Mortada said he had asked authorities to ban 'Barbie' for purportedly "promoting homosexuality", though the film does not contain any overt references to same-sex relationships or queer themes.
"It was decided... to send a request to Lebanon's General Security agency... to take all necessary measures to ban showing this movie in Lebanon," Mortada said in a statement.
The film "promotes homosexuality and transsexuality... supports rejecting a father's guardianship, undermines and ridicules the role of the mother, and questions the necessity of marriage and having a family," he said.
Iran
Iran also imposed a ban on the screening of 'Barbie'. According to reports, film's sexuality theme prompted the ban. The regulators even barred the media from using the word "homosexuality," instead ordering outlets to refer to it as "sexual deviance."
A similar order also has been issued by the country’s education minister banning the word from universities.
'Barbie' does not include any overt sexuality, but the all-star cast includes Kate McKinnon, who is gay, and Hari Nef, who is transgender. Many in the LGBTQ+ community have embraced the film, even as some have criticized it as pushing a heteronormative narrative.
Vietnam
Barbie was banned in Vietnam for political reasons. The Greta Gerwig directorial features the controversial 'nine-dash line' - a dotted line that China uses when drawing its borders in the South China Sea. Vietnam's state media reported that the government banned distribution of the popular movie because it includes a view of a map showing disputed territorial claims.
The nine-dash line is an arcane but sensitive issue for China and its neighbours that depicts Beijing's claims to sovereignty over most of the South China Sea, which Vietnam, Malaysia and the Philippines reject.
Pakistan
'Barbie' faced a temporary ban in Pakistan's Punjab due to its LGBTQ+ themes. While the film was a rage among the audience, many extremists opposed it due to what they consider "objectionable content." However, the Punjab interim Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi directed the censor board to take a decision about the exhibition of the Hollywood film. A statement issued by his office said a meeting of the full censor board had been held during which the movie was reviewed and approval was given for its screening in Punjab.