Aduba's character is in a relationship with another woman, whom she kisses in the film. The film features Chris Evans as the voice of 'Buzz' and Uzo Aduba as 'Alisha Hawthorne'.
'Lightyear', which had been advertised by cinemas in the UAE for release on June 16, is centered around the Buzz Lightyear action figure character from the popular Toy Story franchise. Like many other Middle East and Muslim nations, same-sex relationships are criminalised in the UAE, a Gulf country of about 10 million people where most of the population are foreigners. Media Regulatory Office Executive Director Rashid Khalfan Al Nuaimi later told Reuters the film was banned because of the inclusion of 'homosexual' characters in several scenes.Ī Disney representative did not immediately respond to emailed Reuters questions on the ban, which drew praise from some on social media in the country. The film would not be licensed for screening in the country as it violated the nation's media content standard, the Ministry of Youth and Culture's media regulatory office wrote on Twitter. The United Arab Emirates on Monday banned Walt Disney-Pixar's animated feature film 'Lightyear' from screening in cinemas because it features characters in a same-sex relationship.
