Chris Evans Slams Countries Who Have Banned Lightyear Over Same-Sex Kiss

Chris Evans has lashed out and countries who have refused to show Pixar’s Lightyear due to its inclusion of a same-sex relationship.

The film has been banned in several Middle Eastern countries including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.

Evans - the voice behind Buzz Lightyear in the film - has shared some choice words for those taking issue with the same-sex kiss in the film.

"The real truth is those people are idiots," Evans explained to Reuters.

"Every time there’s been social advancement as we wake up, the American story, the human story is one of constant social awakening and growth and that’s what makes us good."

He added: "There’s always going to be people who are afraid and unaware and trying to hold on to what was before."

Evans explained to the outlet that all that can be done now is to ignore those who take issue with inclusion.

"I think the goal is to pay them no mind, march forward and embrace the growth that makes us human," the Lightyear star said.

"It’s tough to not be a little frustrated that it even has to be a topic of discussion. The goal is that we can get to a point where it is the norm, and that this doesn’t have to be some uncharted waters, that eventually this is just the way it is."

Evans' comments come after a number of conservative countries finally confirmed that they would not show the film, which has been rated as PG by Western regulators.

The UAE's Media Regulatory Office confirmed on June 13 that Lightyear would not be released in the conservative country.

It issued a statement to Twitter saying: "The office confirms that all films screened in cinemas across the country are subject to follow-up and evaluation before the date of screening to the public, to ensure the safety of the circulated content according to the appropriate age classification."

The Media Regulatory Office announced that the animated film Lightyear, which is scheduled for release on 16th June, is not licensed for public screening in all cinemas in the UAE, due to its violation of the country’s media content standards. pic.twitter.com/f3iYwXqs1D

— مكتب تنظيم الإعلام (@uaemro) June 13, 2022

It's not just Lightyear that has experienced the same treatment in conservative nations.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, West Side Story and Eternals have also been banned due to Gulf censorship restricting LGBTQI+ storylines.

Lightyear, which is set in the same universe as Toy Story, includes a kiss scene between Alisha Hawthorne, voiced by Orange Is the New Black actor Uzo Aduba, and another female character.

The scene was initially removed from the film as tensions rose over Florida's ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill, which deems the education of sexuality and gender identity as ‘not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards’.

However, LGBTQI+ employees of Disney issued a letter to the company after the scene was removed, accusing them of ‘barring’ diverse storytelling, according to Variety.

It has since been restored to the film.