Beauty & the Beast gets adults-only rating in Russia

To most people who know the classic tale of Beauty & the Beast it would be obvious that it is meant to be a children’s story, same for Disney’s upcoming live-action adaption of the tale. But Russia seems to have a different view on the topic: Beauty & the Beast will be adults-only rated because of its “exclusively gay moment”.

While most people were thrilled about finally seeing Disney’s first openly gay character in Beauty& the Beast, it still seems to be a problem for some having homosexuality portrayed in a movie. Especially the Russian leaders didn’t seem too happy with Disney’s decision.

The Russian government first called for banning Beauty & the Beast from cinemas, after the ruling party MP Vitaly Milonov referred to the film’s content as “perverted sexual relations”. Finally, it will be released as planned on March 16, but with a 16+ rating which prevents children from watching it. The officials explained the content of the gay scene would violate the country’s 2013 law against “gay propaganda”.

Last week it was revealed by the film's director, Bill Condon, that there would be a “nice, exclusively gay moment” in Disney’s upcoming live-action movie. The scene in question will feature Gaston’s right-hand man LeFou who struggles with his romantic feelings for his master.

“LeFou is somebody who on one day wants to be Gaston and on another day wants to kiss Gaston,” Condon explained in an interview. “He’s confused about what he wants. It’s somebody who’s just realising that he has these feelings.”

Condon added that he hopes audiences don’t “make a big deal of it.” So now, that a children’s movie is not accessible for children because of gay content, he seems to ask the right question: “Why is it a big deal?”