‘Bety and the Beast’: Disney’s First-Ever Gay Character Is LeFou, Voiced by Josh Gad – The Hollywood Reporter

Contents:

• 'BETY AND THE BEAST'S 'GAY MOMENT' MAY HAVE BEEN MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHG
• PLEASE CHILL OUT ABOUT THE ‘BETY AND THE BEAST’ GAY SCENE
• BETY AND THE BEAST: DISNEY REF TO CUT GAY SCENE FOR MALAYSIAN RELEASE
• ‘BETY AND THE BEAST’ OPENS STRONG CHA WH ‘GAY MOMENT’ INTACT
• BETY AND THE BEAST GAY SCENE: WHY WAS WRTEN IN?
• DISNEY BREAKS NEW GROUND WH GAY SCENE 'BETY AND THE BEAST'
• DISNEY TO FEATURE FIRST GAY SCENE 'BETY AND THE BEAST'
• CONTROVERSY EPTS OVER GAY SCENE 'BETY AND THE BEAST' AS THEATER DROPS FILM
• 'BETY AND THE BEAST' FEATUR DISNEY'S FIRST GAY CHARACTER
• DISNEY WON’T CUT GAY BETY AND THE BEAST SCENE FOR MALAYSIA’S CENSORSTHE STUD IS STANDG BEHD THE CREATIVE CHOICE TO FEATURE A GAY CHARACTER.BY YOHANA DTAMARCH 16, 2017COURTY OF WALT DISNEY PICTUR.SAVE THIS STORYSAVESAVE THIS STORYSAVEBILL CONDON PROBABLY NEVER SAW THIS G. BEFORE THE RELEASE OF BETY AND THE BEAST, THE DIRECTOR REVEALED THAT THE LIVE-ACTN FILM WOULD FEATURE AN “EXCLIVELY GAY MOMENT” FEATURG LEFOU (PLAYED BY JOSH GAD), THE OBSSIVE SIKICK TO THE OSTENTAT GASTON (LE EVANS). HIS MENT HAS SCE KICKED UP A WORLD OF TRIGUE AND NTROVERSY, AND HAS SPIRED DISNEY TO DIG S HEELS ABOUT THE CISN. THE STUD HAS CID TO LAY THE FILM'S RELEASE MALAYSIA, DUE TO THE UNTRY’S STRICT CENSOR BOARD AND LAWS AGAST HOMOSEXUALY. ORIGALLY, THE FILM WAS GOG TO AIR WH THE GAY “MOMENT” EDED OUT—BUT DISNEY IS NOW REFG TO CUT THE SCENE ALTOGETHER, ACRDG TO THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER.“THE STUD SAYS THAT THE MOVIE WILL NOT BE ALTERED, BUT WILL STEAD MOVE THE RELEASE DATE TO MARCH 30, TO ALLOW MORE TIME FOR MALAYSIA’S CENSOR BOARD TO MAKE A CISN ON WHETHER OR NOT TO RELEASE BETY AND THE BEAST WHOUT CHANG,” T.H.R. SAYS.THE FILM WAS PREVLY APPROVED BY MALAYSIA’S CENSOR BOARD, PROVID THE SCENE— WHICH GAD DANC WH ANOTHER MAN—WAS CUT OUT. “WE HAVE APPROVED , BUT THERE IS A MOR CUT VOLVG A GAY MOMENT,” FILM CENSORSHIP BOARD CHAIRMAN ABDUL HALIM TOLD THE ASSOCIATED PRS. “IT IS ONLY ONE SHORT SCENE, BUT IS APPROPRIATE BEE MANY CHILDREN WILL BE WATCHG THIS MOVIE."DISNEY’S CISN SENDS A SHARP MSAGE TO OTHERS NSIRG BOYTTG OR EDG THE FILM. A THEATER ALABAMA RECENTLY CID AGAST SCREENG BEE OF THAT "GAY MOMENT.”“IF WE N NOT TAKE OUR 11-YEAR-OLD GRAND DGHTER AND 8-YEAR-OLD GRANDSON TO SEE A MOVIE, WE HAVE NO BS WATCHG . IF I N’T S THROUGH A MOVIE WH GOD OR J STG BY ME THEN WE HAVE NO BS SHOWG ,” THE OWNERS OF THE HENGAR DRIVE-IN THEATER WROTE A NOW-LETED FACEBOOK POST.IN ADDN, RSIA WAS MULLG OVER A BAN ON BETY AND THE BEAST BUT HAS SCE CID TO JT CHANGE THE FILM’S RATG. NOW, ONLY PEOPLE 16 OR OLR N SEE THEATERS.THE HIGH-PROFILE BANS WON’T SEEM TO HURT DISNEY’S BOTTOM LE. BETY AND THE BEAST IS POISED FOR A MASSIVE $215 LN TO $245 LN WORLDWI OPENG, ACRDG TO DEADLE.IT’S ALSO ENJOYG S TIME THE CULTURAL SPOTLIGHT. LATE-NIGHT HOST JAM CORN HAD A LTLE FUN WH THE MIL WEDNDAY NIGHT, BRGG STARS JOSH GAD, LE EVANS, AND DAN STEVENS (WHO PLAYS THE BEAST) TO DO A VIRAL-READY PARODY OF BETY AND THE BEAST. THE STARS PUT TOGETHER AN IMPROMPTU OUTDOOR VERSN OF THE FILM, PERFORMG FAMO SONGS LIKE “BE OUR GUT” THE MIDDLE OF A BY LOS ANGEL CROSSWALK. CORN, NATURALLY, PLAYED BELLE EMMA WATSON’S ABSENCE—WHICH IS SOMETHG MALAYSIA WOULD PROBABLY CENSOR TOO.THE VANY FAIR COVER SHOOT: EMMA WATSON, REBEL BELLE1 / 11CHEVRONCHEVRONPHOTOGRAPH BY TIM WALKER. STYLED BY JSI DIEHL.WATSON WEARS A GOWN BY GUCCI. MOL JORDAN ROBSON WEARS A RSET OM ANGELS COSTUM; PANTS BY ARIAT.MOST POPULARVANY FAIR’S “IT’S RAG TEENS” COVER AT 20: WHERE ARE THEY NOW?BY SAVANNAH WALSHZENDAYA PAYS TRIBUTE TO “BROTHER” ANG CLOUD: “I’LL CHERISH EVERY MOMENT”BY SAVANNAH WALSHFRAN DRCHER PREDICTS 6 MORE MONTHS OF ACTORS STRIKE: “WE’RE REALLY IT TO W IT”BY SAVANNAH WALSHYOHANA DTA
• ‘BETY AND THE BEAST’: JOSH GAD PLAYS DISNEY’S FIRST-EVER GAY CHARACTER
• MALAYSIA TO SHOW ‘BETY AND THE BEAST’ WH GAY SCENE, EXHIBORS SAY
• ‘BETY AND THE BEAST’ PULLED FROM MALAYSIA RELEASE AFTER ‘GAY MOMENT’ IS CUT
• JOSH GAD ADDRS GAY ‘BETY AND THE BEAST’ CHARACTER AT L.A. PREMIERE: ‘IT’S IMPORTANT’
• JOSH GAD RPONDS TO CONTROVERSY OVER ‘BETY AND THE BEAST’S’ GAY MOMENT
• DISNEY REF TO CUT BETY AND THE BEAST ‘GAY MOMENT’ DPE MALAYSIA OBJECTN
• DISNEY BREAKS NEW GROUND WH GAY SCENE 'BETY AND THE BEAST'
• 'BETY AND THE BEAST' FEATUR DISNEY'S FIRST GAY CHARACTER

'BETY AND THE BEAST'S 'GAY MOMENT' MAY HAVE BEEN MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHG

They're not talkg about the overall film, which is gettg great reviews (three out of four stars om USA TODAY) and breakg box office rerds wh a $170 ln but, the hight ever for March and the seventh-hight of all unrwhelmed reactn has been to the so-lled "exclively gay moment" the film, which has ed ternatnal ntroversy sce director Bill Condon first mentned an terview wh Attu the terview, Condon said the character LeFou (Josh Gad) would be portrayed as gay.

The "gay moment" that Condon was referrg to is a blk-and-you'll-miss- shot the film's fal sends.

"If nobody had said that #LeFou had a 'gay moment'  #BetyAndTheBeast, I really don't thk would've even been a thg, " wrote one Twter er. "Watched the new #BetyAndTheBeast movie last night, hontly don't unrstand what the outrage (about) there beg a gay character was (about), " wrote another.

PLEASE CHILL OUT ABOUT THE ‘BETY AND THE BEAST’ GAY SCENE

"Bt part of my day was when half the theater clapped and cheered when the gay uple me on screen #BetyAndTheBeast, " reported one dience who supported the film appld how much money was able rack spe reported "boytts. "Though the moment was well-received or unrwhelmg to many dience members, there were some the LGBT muny who thought the reprentatn of a gay character did not go far enough. Also LeFou is not gay enough, " one Twter er sentiment was shared by some LGBT crics and wrers.

"Disney n pat self on s back all wants for turng a villao buffoon that was d as gay the origal film to a morally ambiguo buffoon who is more obvly gay, nfis a teapot, and tri out dancg wh a man, " wrote Vulture. "Although I adored the movie overall, part of my tratn wh is that I had hoped for more out of Condon’s 'exclively gay moment, '" The Huffgton Post explaed.

Instead, people have fixated on a blk-and-you-miss- sequence of gayns toward the end of the film.

BETY AND THE BEAST: DISNEY REF TO CUT GAY SCENE FOR MALAYSIAN RELEASE

Le grand as began when director Bill Condon misguidly promised a “nice, exclively gay moment” his live-actn remake.

‘BETY AND THE BEAST’ OPENS STRONG CHA WH ‘GAY MOMENT’ INTACT

A Screen Rant story said: “Why Disney’s First Gay Character Matters. ” Meanwhile, an Inquistr piece explaed “Why ‘Bety And The Beast’ Gay Scene Don’t Matter. But that has nothg to do wh a barely-there, old-school, implicly gay scene; ’s bee ’s Disney’s Bety and the Freak’ Beast.

Instead, nsir that one month ago, “Moonlight, ” a film featurg assuredly gay characters alg wh real-life stggl, won the Amy Award for Bt Picture — the first gay movie to ever do so.

BETY AND THE BEAST GAY SCENE: WHY WAS WRTEN IN?

Disney says will not cut a gay scene om Bety and the Beast for release Malaysia, spe a requt om live-actn film, which stars Emma Watson, had been schled to open cemas Malaysia on Thursday, but Disney fely postponed the film’s release earlier this week after the untry’s Film Censorship Board said would only be approved if the scene was cut. Homosexual activy remas illegal Malaysia, and homosexual characters n only be picted on screen if they show repentance or are portrayed negatively. “We have approved but there is a mor cut volvg a gay moment.

DISNEY BREAKS NEW GROUND WH GAY SCENE 'BETY AND THE BEAST'

The film featur an “exclively gay moment”, where LeFou danc wh another scene has already attracted ntroversy.

DISNEY TO FEATURE FIRST GAY SCENE 'BETY AND THE BEAST'

Disney’s “Bety and the Beast, ” which has ffled feathers some nservative untri bee of a “gay moment” the film, opened Friday Cha uncut and on top of the box office. The brief “gay moment” (as director Bill Condon lls ) volvg the character Le Fou at the end of the movie left Cha’s sometim tty censors unfltered.

“Controversial gay moment kept Disney’s #BetyAndTheBeast. Controversial gay moment kept Disney's #BetyAndTheBeast.

Prcs always meet their prce charmg Disney movi, but Bety at the Beast, one gay male character is hopg to meet his as well. In a major change of nventn, one character the new live actn versn is set to have the stud’s first "exclively gay scene. "It is a nice, exclively gay moment a Disney movie.

CONTROVERSY EPTS OVER GAY SCENE 'BETY AND THE BEAST' AS THEATER DROPS FILM

"This is a msage that will be heard every untry, even untri where ’s still socially unacceptable or even illegal to be gay. By Anna Pujol-MazziLONDON, March 2 (Thomson Rters Foundatn) — Disney will feature s first gay scene when a character is seen stgglg wh his sexualy the live-actn remake of “Bety and the Beast, ” acrdg to the film's film's stars will be heterosexual — Brish actors Emma Watson and Dan Stevens play the tle rol — and manservant LeFou, sikick to the film's macho ma man Gaston, will grapple wh his own More: Fewer Teens Tried to Take Their Liv Once Gay Marriage Was Legal"LeFou is somebody who on one day wants to be Gaston and on another day wants to kiss Gaston, " director Bill Condon told gay magaze Attu an terview published on Wednday. It is a nice, exclively gay moment a Disney movie, " he told the Brish More: Powerful KissCam Ad Is Like No Other KissCam You’ve Seen BeforeAttu edor--chief Matt Ca said was an important step toward fair reprentatn of LGBT people the media.

"By reprentg same-sex attractn this short but explicly gay scene, the stud is sendg out a msage that this is normal and natural — and this is a msage that will be heard every untry of the world, even untri where 's still socially unacceptable or even illegal to be gay, " he More: Stars Speak Out Agast Anti-LGBTQ Bills Texas“Bety and the Beast” tells the story of a prce who is transformed to a beast, and a young woman who is imprisoned his stle, as he tri to w her love.

'BETY AND THE BEAST' FEATUR DISNEY'S FIRST GAY CHARACTER

LONDON – Disney will feature s first gay scene when a character is seen stgglg wh his sexualy the live-actn remake of 'Bety and the Beast', acrdg to the film's film's stars will be heterosexual — Brish actors Emma Watson and Dan Stevens play the tle rol — and manservant LeFou, sikick to the film's macho ma man Gaston, will grapple wh his own sexualy. "LeFou is somebody who on one day wants to be Gaston and on another day wants to kiss Gaston, " director Bill Condon told gay magaze Attu an terview published on Wednday. The highly anticipated live-actn remake of “Bety and the Beast” will feature a gay character for the first time Disney's history, acrdg to the film’s director.

Director Bill Condon said an terview wh Attu, a Brish gay magaze, that LeFou, the goofy sikick of the film’s ma villa, Gaston, will fd his own subplot by explorg his sexualy.

DISNEY WON’T CUT GAY BETY AND THE BEAST SCENE FOR MALAYSIA’S CENSORSTHE STUD IS STANDG BEHD THE CREATIVE CHOICE TO FEATURE A GAY CHARACTER.BY YOHANA DTAMARCH 16, 2017COURTY OF WALT DISNEY PICTUR.SAVE THIS STORYSAVESAVE THIS STORYSAVEBILL CONDON PROBABLY NEVER SAW THIS G. BEFORE THE RELEASE OF BETY AND THE BEAST, THE DIRECTOR REVEALED THAT THE LIVE-ACTN FILM WOULD FEATURE AN “EXCLIVELY GAY MOMENT” FEATURG LEFOU (PLAYED BY JOSH GAD), THE OBSSIVE SIKICK TO THE OSTENTAT GASTON (LE EVANS). HIS MENT HAS SCE KICKED UP A WORLD OF TRIGUE AND NTROVERSY, AND HAS SPIRED DISNEY TO DIG S HEELS ABOUT THE CISN. THE STUD HAS CID TO LAY THE FILM'S RELEASE MALAYSIA, DUE TO THE UNTRY’S STRICT CENSOR BOARD AND LAWS AGAST HOMOSEXUALY. ORIGALLY, THE FILM WAS GOG TO AIR WH THE GAY “MOMENT” EDED OUT—BUT DISNEY IS NOW REFG TO CUT THE SCENE ALTOGETHER, ACRDG TO THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER.“THE STUD SAYS THAT THE MOVIE WILL NOT BE ALTERED, BUT WILL STEAD MOVE THE RELEASE DATE TO MARCH 30, TO ALLOW MORE TIME FOR MALAYSIA’S CENSOR BOARD TO MAKE A CISN ON WHETHER OR NOT TO RELEASE BETY AND THE BEAST WHOUT CHANG,” T.H.R. SAYS.THE FILM WAS PREVLY APPROVED BY MALAYSIA’S CENSOR BOARD, PROVID THE SCENE— WHICH GAD DANC WH ANOTHER MAN—WAS CUT OUT. “WE HAVE APPROVED , BUT THERE IS A MOR CUT VOLVG A GAY MOMENT,” FILM CENSORSHIP BOARD CHAIRMAN ABDUL HALIM TOLD THE ASSOCIATED PRS. “IT IS ONLY ONE SHORT SCENE, BUT IS APPROPRIATE BEE MANY CHILDREN WILL BE WATCHG THIS MOVIE."DISNEY’S CISN SENDS A SHARP MSAGE TO OTHERS NSIRG BOYTTG OR EDG THE FILM. A THEATER ALABAMA RECENTLY CID AGAST SCREENG BEE OF THAT "GAY MOMENT.”“IF WE N NOT TAKE OUR 11-YEAR-OLD GRAND DGHTER AND 8-YEAR-OLD GRANDSON TO SEE A MOVIE, WE HAVE NO BS WATCHG . IF I N’T S THROUGH A MOVIE WH GOD OR J STG BY ME THEN WE HAVE NO BS SHOWG ,” THE OWNERS OF THE HENGAR DRIVE-IN THEATER WROTE A NOW-LETED FACEBOOK POST.IN ADDN, RSIA WAS MULLG OVER A BAN ON BETY AND THE BEAST BUT HAS SCE CID TO JT CHANGE THE FILM’S RATG. NOW, ONLY PEOPLE 16 OR OLR N SEE THEATERS.THE HIGH-PROFILE BANS WON’T SEEM TO HURT DISNEY’S BOTTOM LE. BETY AND THE BEAST IS POISED FOR A MASSIVE $215 LN TO $245 LN WORLDWI OPENG, ACRDG TO DEADLE.IT’S ALSO ENJOYG S TIME THE CULTURAL SPOTLIGHT. LATE-NIGHT HOST JAM CORN HAD A LTLE FUN WH THE MIL WEDNDAY NIGHT, BRGG STARS JOSH GAD, LE EVANS, AND DAN STEVENS (WHO PLAYS THE BEAST) TO DO A VIRAL-READY PARODY OF BETY AND THE BEAST. THE STARS PUT TOGETHER AN IMPROMPTU OUTDOOR VERSN OF THE FILM, PERFORMG FAMO SONGS LIKE “BE OUR GUT” THE MIDDLE OF A BY LOS ANGEL CROSSWALK. CORN, NATURALLY, PLAYED BELLE EMMA WATSON’S ABSENCE—WHICH IS SOMETHG MALAYSIA WOULD PROBABLY CENSOR TOO.THE VANY FAIR COVER SHOOT: EMMA WATSON, REBEL BELLE1 / 11CHEVRONCHEVRONPHOTOGRAPH BY TIM WALKER. STYLED BY JSI DIEHL.WATSON WEARS A GOWN BY GUCCI. MOL JORDAN ROBSON WEARS A RSET OM ANGELS COSTUM; PANTS BY ARIAT.MOST POPULARVANY FAIR’S “IT’S RAG TEENS” COVER AT 20: WHERE ARE THEY NOW?BY SAVANNAH WALSHZENDAYA PAYS TRIBUTE TO “BROTHER” ANG CLOUD: “I’LL CHERISH EVERY MOMENT”BY SAVANNAH WALSHFRAN DRCHER PREDICTS 6 MORE MONTHS OF ACTORS STRIKE: “WE’RE REALLY IT TO W IT”BY SAVANNAH WALSHYOHANA DTA

” Condon promised the film will have a “nice, exclively gay moment” at the the LGBTQ have been advotg to see themselv reprented Disney films. Those g were advotg for givg the lead character Disney’s blockbter h “Frozen” a female love tert the news of LeFou beg Disney’s first gay character, however, was met wh mixed reactns.

Before the release of Bety and the Beast, the director revealed that the live-actn film would feature an “exclively gay moment” featurg LeFou (played by Josh Gad), the obssive sikick to the ostentat Gaston (Le Evans).

The stud has cid to lay the film's release Malaysia, due to the untry’s strict censor board and laws agast homosexualy.

‘BETY AND THE BEAST’: JOSH GAD PLAYS DISNEY’S FIRST-EVER GAY CHARACTER

Origally, the film was gog to air wh the gay “moment” eded out—but Disney is now refg to cut the scene altogether, acrdg to The Hollywood Reporter. “We have approved , but there is a mor cut volvg a gay moment, ” Film Censorship Board chairman Abdul Halim told the Associated Prs. A theater Alabama recently cid agast screeng bee of that "gay moment.

It’s certa as the sun — Josh Gad’s character Bety and the Beast is gay. But is a nice, exclively gay moment a Disney movie.

MALAYSIA TO SHOW ‘BETY AND THE BEAST’ WH GAY SCENE, EXHIBORS SAY

Asia Pacific|Malaysia to Show ‘Bety and the Beast’ Wh Gay Scene, Exhibors Say Rasfan/Agence France-Prse — Getty ImagMarch 21, 2017BANGKOK — The film “Bety and the Beast” will open next week Malaysia spe earlier objectns om the untry’s Film Censorship Board over a brief scene scribed as an “exclively gay moment, ” two major cema pani said Disney Studs had refed to cut the scene to appease Malaysian censors. ”“You don’t ban a film bee of a gay character, ” he said, acrdg to The Malay Mail.

“All the years even whout the gay character the ‘Bety and the Beast, ’ there are also gays the world. ”The censorship board had led that a shot volvg two male characters dancg a ballroom mt be cut om the movie, on the ground that promoted homosexualy.

Disney’s “Bety and the Beast” has been pulled om release Malaysia, even though the untry’s official censors approved the release after cuttg a well-publicized “gay moment” om the film. “We have approved [the movie], but there is a mor cut volvg a gay moment. Gay sex is still punishable by law, cludg imprisonment, socially nservative Malaysia.

‘BETY AND THE BEAST’ PULLED FROM MALAYSIA RELEASE AFTER ‘GAY MOMENT’ IS CUT

Gay characters are allowed to be shown movi, but only if they are portrayed negatively or as repentant. The cln of a gay character “Bety and the Beast” has also ed a stir Rsia, which has slapped a 16+ ratg on the movie, rtrictg viewg to moviegoers aged 16 and up.

JOSH GAD ADDRS GAY ‘BETY AND THE BEAST’ CHARACTER AT L.A. PREMIERE: ‘IT’S IMPORTANT’

New tras have been add to the live-actn remake, cludg Josh Gad‘s portrayal of LeFou as Disney’s first openly gay character.

Josh Gad says the “gay moment” Disney’s new “Bety and the Beast” film is “subtle but credibly effective, ” and “everythg that need to be said on this issue has fely been said.

JOSH GAD RPONDS TO CONTROVERSY OVER ‘BETY AND THE BEAST’S’ GAY MOMENT

Condon told Attu Magaze last week, “It is a nice, exclively gay moment a Disney movie.

Disney has cid agast censorg out Bety and the Beast’s “gay moment” for the film’s Malaysian release.

DISNEY REF TO CUT BETY AND THE BEAST ‘GAY MOMENT’ DPE MALAYSIA OBJECTN

Malaysia has strict laws prohibg homosexualy, and the board’s chairman said of the mor scene qutn, “It is only one short scene, but is appropriate bee many children will be watchg this movie. Disney Won’t Cut Bety and the Beast Gay Scene for Malaysia. KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Walt Disney has shelved the release of s new movie Bety and the Beast  maly Mlim Malaysia, even though film censors said Tuday had been approved wh a mor cut volvg a “gay moment.

No reason was Censorship Board chairman Abdul Halim Abdul Hamid said he did not know why the film was postponed as was approved by the board after a mor gay scene was axed. He said scen promotg homosexualy were forbidn and that the film was given a P13 ratg, which requir parental guidance for children unr 13 years of age. It is only one short scene but is appropriate bee many children will be watchg this movie, ” Abdul Halim told The Associated said there was no appeal om Disney about the cisn to cut the gay officials did not immediately rpond to a requt for ment.

” Condon has scribed a brief scene as a “gay moment.

DISNEY BREAKS NEW GROUND WH GAY SCENE 'BETY AND THE BEAST'

The new l allowed pictn of gay characters, but only if they show repentance or are portrayed a negative light.

Sodomy, even if nsensual, is punishable by up to 20 years prison and whippg on this storyBacklash grows over Disney's gay 'Bety and the Beast' character'Bety' backlash: 'Too much' ma of LeFou beg gay, Josh Gad saysReview: Rog new 'Bety and the Beast' is even better than the origal.

'BETY AND THE BEAST' FEATUR DISNEY'S FIRST GAY CHARACTER