The blockbuster from Warner Bros Barbie is reportedly banned in Algeriaas some countries in the Middle East continue to object to the themes of gender and sexuality in Hollywood film.
Reuters reports this on Monday, according to an official source and the local 24H Algerie news site, which displays from Barbie in Algeria that began July 21 have been halted because the film “promotes homosexuality and other Western deviations,” according to the official source, and violates the country’s religious and cultural values.
Impressions of Barbie have already been blocked in Kuwait, even as the tentpole starring Margot Robbie as a pop icon alongside Ryan Gosling’s Ken has launched on screens in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain following initial censorship threats and edits.
In Lebanon, traditionally considered one of the more liberal countries in the region with regard to the LGBTQ community, Culture Minister Mohammad Mortada said that Barbie “promotes homosexuality” and “contradicts values of faith and morality”, by diminishing the importance of the family unit.
In the meantime Barbie continues to enchant audiences closer to home. The Greta Gerwig-directed film grossed an estimated $33.7 million at the box office August 11-13 in North America, its ninth-biggest fourth weekend of all time, easily remaining No. 1 as it crossed the box office mark domestically. $500 million and $657 shot. million abroad for an impressive worldwide total of $1.18 billion.
Gerwig now ranks as the highest-grossing female director of all time domestically after her film skated past Frozen IIwhich was led by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck.
Warner Bros. has not yet responded The Hollywood Reporterrequest for comment.
