The release of the film Barbie has been met with controversy in the Middle East, with Kuwait, Lebanon, and Oman banning the film altogether.
The film, which stars Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling as the iconic characters, follows Barbie and Ken as they leave their perfect lives in Barbieland to explore the real world. The film does not include any sexual scenes, but it does feature an openly gay and transgender cast.
Kuwait, Lebanon, and Oman banned the film because they believe it promotes ideas and beliefs that are not in line with their cultures and values. Kuwait’s Ministry of Information said the film was “alien” to Kuwaiti society, while Lebanon’s culture minister said it “contradicted religious values and morality” and “promoted homosexuality and sexual transformation.”
Oman also claimed that the film contained scenes considered unsuitable for children, such as drug use and other illicit content.
The film has been released in cinemas across the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Bahrain, after facing repeated delays due to censorship issues.
It seemed that the film would be banned in these countries, but the matter was finally resolved and the film was approved for release. As a result, the film was released ahead of its scheduled release date, which was postponed from July 20 to August 31. However, the age limit for the film was raised to 18+.
In Morocco, the film was a great success without any controversy.
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