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'Wicked' film pulled from Kuwait cinemas, reportedly over LGBTQ cast

Kuwait has banned the Hollywood musical 'Wicked', reportedly over its LGBTQ cast, marking it latest in a series of films prohibited in the Gulf state.

The New Arab Staff
04 December, 2024


The renowned American singer Ariana Grande stars as Glinda alongside acclaimed British actress Cynthia Erivo, who identifies as bisexual [Getty]

The critically acclaimed musical Wicked has been pulled from cinema schedules in Kuwait just before its local release on Thursday, Kuwaiti media reported, making it the latest Hollywood film to be banned in the Gulf state.

While a reason for the ban has not been given, local media reports have suggested that the ban may be linked to the film's LGBTQ cast.

The film, directed by Jon M. Chu, is an adaptation of Broadway's reimagining of The Wizard of Oz. It premiered in the US and Canada last week, earning over $114 million in its first two days.

The renowned American singer Ariana Grande stars as Glinda alongside acclaimed British actress Cynthia Erivo, who identifies as bisexual, playing Elphaba.

The ensemble cast includes openly gay cast members such as Jonathan Bailey, Bowen Yang and Marissa Bode.

Last year, the Gulf state was among several Arab countries that banned the popular Barbie film to preserve "public ethics" and "social traditions".

Kuwait has emerged as one of the strictest Gulf states on film censorship, surpassing even Saudi Arabia, leaving many Kuwaitis to cross the border to watch films.

Later in 2023, it also banned the horror movie Talk to Me over the inclusion of Zoe Terakes, a non-binary transgender actor.