It’s been kind of a controversial topic about LGBTQ+ representation in the MCU, and has been since the beginning. But lately, that stigma seems to be changing with more information and awareness on the subject. With greater representation of members of the LGBTQ+ community in comics and popular media, the MCU has been keen to contribute to this with representation in their projects.
But it seems Marvel Studios has hesitantly walked away from its words about the whole thing.
With the worldwide release of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, a certain number of a 10-second scene depicting Aneka kissing Ayo on the forehead was cut from the length of the film, which left fans both furious and disappointed.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Makers has deleted an LGBTQ+ scene
We all know that censorship rules and regulations are different in different locations, and movies must meet and adhere to these standards in order to release the movie in that region. An example is Kuwait, where the 10-second scene of Aneka kissing Ayo on the forehead was removed from the film by the Kuwait censorship board.
A 10-second scene showing Aneka kissing Ayo on the forehead was reportedly cut from #WakandaForeverin Kuwait.
🔗: https://t.co/bVLWySSccr pic.twitter.com/3DlHTycXXp
—PopCrave (@PopCrave) November 11, 2022
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Whereas Black Panther: Wakanda Forever had to agree to these edits, fans were left disappointed by it nonetheless, taking to Twitter and talking about the whole incident.
A same-sex forehead kiss is also known as a “scissoring” in Kuwait 😵💫 pic.twitter.com/joNSFzkGAL
— ℍ𝕖𝕝𝕝𝕚𝕠𝕟 (@STARS_NZ) November 11, 2022
I want to know their thought process when they did this because we usually greet people we respect a lot or people older than us with a kiss on the forehead here?? why this cut 😭😭
—Hamad (@HamadPetras) November 12, 2022
What? Don’t they like to kiss each other on the cheeks to greet each other, etc. in their culture, or am I tripping?
— BOANCED KNOW (@bobesa_bw) November 11, 2022
— 21 CAN YOU MAKE SUM FUH MEH (@mamaaintraiseno) November 11, 2022
Similar to the incident in Kuwait, Marvel Studios also decided to ax this particular scene in China for similar reasons. Fans have turned that fact around, believing they did it all just to appease the Chinese Censorship Board. With the film banned from the Chinese box office, one of the biggest markets for Marvel Studios, it’s not hard to see why they did what they did in China.
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Why did the creators do this?
This is obvious for obvious reasons. He has no choice but to adhere to these censorship laws in order to be able to release the films in these respective regions. Even when the censorship board demands certain scenes be removed for moral, sentimental, or religious reasons, the studio would much rather edit a certain portion of it than lose the entire revenue stream from it.
Ultimately, it’s not the studios that decide what stays and what goes, it’s the censorship board, and all we can do is accept.
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Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is in theaters now
Source: @PopCrave
