The Walt Disney Co. film has courted controversy after the director, Bill Condon, first announced that it would feature a gay character – LeFou, the goofy sidekick to main villain Gaston – for the first time in Disney’s history.

The gay character has sparked calls among some conservative groups for the film to be boycotted.

Billboards and posters advertising the film, with a March 16 release date, had been displayed on buildings and along major roads all around Kuala Lumpur. But Malaysia’s largest cinema chains announced that the screenings had been held up.

Malaysian Censorship Board gave the movie a P13 classification, meaning parental guidance is advisable for children under 13 years, after a “gay moment” was cut.

The postponement has sparked an outcry among some Malaysian film fans.

“Just to be open-minded that’s all, because it’s just a story, just a movie, nothing else matters,” said Jasrena Jasmih, an executive who works in Kuala Lumpur.

“It shouldn’t be banned, it shouldn’t be an issue.. I think people also overreact a little bit, and it’s just funny in the way that the whole thing goes viral and the way people react,” added a local cafe owner, Treve Ng, who set up a sign outside his shop saying “Now Showing: Beauty and the Banned”.

Starring Emma Watson as young Belle who falls in love with the Beast, the film is one of the most talked about Hollywood movies of the spring. According to some box office analysts, it could bring in upwards of $100 million in North America on its opening weekend.

Malaysia has previously blocked the release of Hollywood movies deemed religiously insensitive, such as 1998’s “The Prince of Egypt”, which depicted the Biblical story of Moses, and 1995’s “Babe”, which featured a pig as the main character. Muslims consider pigs unclean.

The live-action remake of Disney’s animated classic film, begins its worldwide rollout on Thursday (March 16).

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See the graphic photos below :

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Buhari said this in a recent interview

His words: “Yes, I was elected by an overwhelming majority of Nigerians, and I am ever grateful for the opportunity I have been given to serve.

“However, I don’t consider the result of the so-called survey a slip in my public rating and acceptance. I appreciate the high expectations of Nigerians and as an administration we are working assiduously to deliver.

“We came in with a mantra of Change and the zeal to give a new lease of life to governance. Our zeal has remained the same and we are always prepared to make the difference.

“You will recall that when I was being sworn in, I emphasized that as a government, three key areas will be the priorities. The first is the need to rebuild the economy. I also pledged to fight insecurity while the third and equally important area is the fight against corruption.

“Nigeria will soon be back on track. Before now, we have been having sleepless nights in Nigeria with Boko Haram having field days in tormenting people, most especially in the North-Eastern part of the country. So far, we have shown resilience in stopping these people and yet many criticize the approach we are using.

“What I think our people should know is that a process of change is difficult as it requires endurance and patience. China, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and other great Asian countries had at different times passed through processes of change. They are far better off today.

“And some of these countries were at par with Nigeria in terms of development some five decades ago. We are attempting to do the same here to say let us stop building individuals, let us stop making those who serve in government get stupendously wealthy at the expense of ordinary Nigerians they had sworn to serve.

“Rather, we should concentrate on building strong institutions. Let us introduce economic prosperity by bringing in more investors to catalyze a sense of competition to grow our economy. Let there be law and order in our ways.”

He Pleaded with Nigerians to “continue to exercise patience and let them know that we will not rest on our oars until we bring succour back to them and to the country. From our efforts so far.”

 
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